Associations between early marriage and preterm delivery: Evidence from lowland Nepal.

Faith A MillerAkanksha A MarphatiaJonathan C K WellsMario Cortina-BorjaDharma S ManandharNaomi M Saville

Published in: American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council (2021)

In this population, early marriage, rather than pregnancy, is a risk factor for preterm delivery. We hypothesize that psychological stress, a driver of preterm delivery which is increased among those marrying young, rather than physiological immaturity, drives this association. Further research into the psychological consequences of child marriage in Nepal is needed.

Keyphrases

preterm birth
low birth weight
gestational age
preterm infants
mental health
sleep quality
physical activity
depressive symptoms
stress induced
pregnancy outcomes