Age at First Marriage in Age at First Marriage in PalestinePalestine

Niveen ME Abu-Rmeileh, MPH, PhDNiveen ME Abu-Rmeileh, MPH, PhDInstitute of Community and Public Health-Birzeit UniversityInstitute of Community and Public Health-Birzeit University

Ulla Larsen, PhDUlla Larsen, PhDUniversity of MarylandUniversity of Maryland

The Palestinian population The Palestinian population has endured ongoing conflict has endured ongoing conflict since 1948, with the first Arab since 1948, with the first Arab Israeli war and the creation of Israeli war and the creation of the State of Israelthe State of Israel

The West Bank and the Gaza The West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been occupied by Strip have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967the Israeli military since 1967

The interactions between The interactions between different political, economic, different political, economic, social and cultural factors social and cultural factors have shaped and modified the have shaped and modified the characteristics of the characteristics of the Palestinian populationPalestinian population

BackgroundBackground

Palestinians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Palestinians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory have a high total fertility of 4.6 births per woman in 2004. have a high total fertility of 4.6 births per woman in 2004. The total fertility has been declining and has decreased The total fertility has been declining and has decreased from 6.1 in 1995 to 4.6 in 2004 from 6.1 in 1995 to 4.6 in 2004

The population pyramid is characterized by a wide base The population pyramid is characterized by a wide base of young people where 45.6 % are less than 15 years of young people where 45.6 % are less than 15 years and 3.6 % are older than 65 years and 3.6 % are older than 65 years

The average household size is 5.7 people. The nuclear The average household size is 5.7 people. The nuclear family is the most common type of household (83 %), family is the most common type of household (83 %), although the extended family (13 %) is sizeablealthough the extended family (13 %) is sizeable

BackgroundBackground

Several indicators have improved, such as women’s Several indicators have improved, such as women’s education and engagement in the labor force education and engagement in the labor force – 9.4% of women were illiterate, 15.6 had secondary education and 9.4% of women were illiterate, 15.6 had secondary education and

8.8% diploma or higher (2004)8.8% diploma or higher (2004)– 10% of women participating in labor force in 1995, 12.3% in 1999 10% of women participating in labor force in 1995, 12.3% in 1999

and 12.8 in 2003 and 14%in 2005.and 12.8 in 2003 and 14%in 2005.

These factors are associated with later ages at first These factors are associated with later ages at first marriage, but it is not clear how these factors relate to marriage, but it is not clear how these factors relate to marriage timing in the Occupied Palestinian Territorymarriage timing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

During the period 1980 to 2003, the median age at first During the period 1980 to 2003, the median age at first marriage was 19.0 years, 25 % had married by age 18.1 marriage was 19.0 years, 25 % had married by age 18.1 and 75 % by age 22.4 among those women who got and 75 % by age 22.4 among those women who got married*married*

*based on data from the Demographic and Health Survey, 2004

Objectives Objectives

To study the pattern of age at first To study the pattern of age at first marriage in the Occupied Palestinian marriage in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and its relationship to selected Territory and its relationship to selected background characteristics and focusing background characteristics and focusing on educationon education

MethodologyMethodology

The analysis was based on the 2004 The analysis was based on the 2004 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) The selected sample included 6,574 households The selected sample included 6,574 households and 5,799 households were interviewedand 5,799 households were interviewedThe individual interviews covered 4,972 ever-The individual interviews covered 4,972 ever-married women aged 15-54 years and the married women aged 15-54 years and the response rate was 97.6 percentresponse rate was 97.6 percentThe survey gathered data about fertility, family The survey gathered data about fertility, family planning, maternal and child health as well as planning, maternal and child health as well as socio-economic and cultural characteristics socio-economic and cultural characteristics

As a first step, annual 25th, 50th and 75th As a first step, annual 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles of age at first marriage for women percentiles of age at first marriage for women married in the period 1980-2003married in the period 1980-2003The period 1980-2003 was divided into the sub-The period 1980-2003 was divided into the sub-periods 1980-1987, 1988-1992, 1993-1998 and periods 1980-1987, 1988-1992, 1993-1998 and 1999-2003 1999-2003 Actuarial life tables were estimated for the Actuarial life tables were estimated for the periods of marriage of 1988-1992, 1993-1998 periods of marriage of 1988-1992, 1993-1998 and 1999-2003and 1999-2003The sample was stratified by level of education The sample was stratified by level of education at surveyat survey

A univarite and multivariate discrete time A univarite and multivariate discrete time logistic regression model of entry into first logistic regression model of entry into first marriage was estimated marriage was estimated

The odds ratios (OR) and 95 percent The odds ratios (OR) and 95 percent confidence intervals (CI) were estimatedconfidence intervals (CI) were estimated

ResultsResults

The 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles of age at first marriage The 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles of age at first marriage for women who had married in Palestine in the period for women who had married in Palestine in the period 1980-20031980-2003

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

Year

Ag

e at

fir

st m

arri

age

25th 50th 75th

Age at first marriage Age at first marriage by period of by period of marriage and level marriage and level of education at of education at survey survey

1988-1992

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40

Pro

pa

blil

ity

of

ma

rria

ge

1993-1998

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40

Pro

pa

bili

ty o

f m

arr

iag

e

1999-2003

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40

Age

Pro

ba

bili

ty o

f m

arr

iag

e

Distribution of socio-economic and cultural Distribution of socio-economic and cultural characteristics by period of first marriage for women characteristics by period of first marriage for women who married in Palestine, 1988-2003 who married in Palestine, 1988-2003

1988-1992 1988-1992 1993-19981993-1998 1999-20031999-2003 P-valueP-value

Total in percent 31.331.3 36.736.7 32.032.0

Age at first marriageAge at first marriage 0.0010.001

10-1410-14 46.446.4 39.339.3 14.314.3

15-1915-19 32.532.5 36.836.8 30.830.8

20-2420-24 28.128.1 36.636.6 35.335.3

25-2925-29 33.333.3 33.333.3 33.333.3

30+30+ 20.220.2 40.540.5 39.339.3

EducationEducation <0.001<0.001

Less than elementaryLess than elementary 48.148.1 36.136.1 15.915.9

ElementaryElementary 38.838.8 38.838.8 22.422.4

PreparatoryPreparatory 30.930.9 36.636.6 32.532.5

SecondarySecondary 25.625.6 34.134.1 40.340.3

Above secondaryAbove secondary 25.825.8 38.938.9 35.335.3

Distribution of socio-economic and cultural Distribution of socio-economic and cultural characteristics by period of first marriage for women characteristics by period of first marriage for women who married in Palestine, 1988-2003who married in Palestine, 1988-2003

1988-1992 1988-1992 1993-19981993-1998 1999-20031999-2003 P-valueP-value

Region at birthRegion at birth 0.160.16

North West BankNorth West Bank 35.235.2 35.035.0 29.829.8

Central West BankCentral West Bank 29.629.6 39.739.7 30.830.8

South West BankSouth West Bank 32.932.9 34.234.2 32.932.9

North Gaza North Gaza 31.331.3 37.937.9 30.830.8

Central Gaza Central Gaza 35.635.6 31.331.3 33.233.2

South GazaSouth Gaza 28.528.5 34.934.9 36.536.5

Relationship to husbandRelationship to husband 0.100.10

KinKin 32.832.8 37.337.3 29.929.9

No kinshipNo kinship 30.230.2 36.336.3 33.533.5

Refugee statusRefugee status 0.910.91

Registered refugeeRegistered refugee 31.131.1 37.137.1 31.831.8

Not registered refugeeNot registered refugee 29.629.6 40.840.8 29.629.6

Not refugeeNot refugee 31.631.6 36.236.2 32.232.2

Univariate and multivariate analysis Univariate and multivariate analysis resultsresults

The odds of first marriage were The odds of first marriage were significantly higher for women age 20-24 significantly higher for women age 20-24 compared to both younger and older age compared to both younger and older age groups.groups.The odds of first marriage were The odds of first marriage were significantly lower for women with less significantly lower for women with less than elementary, secondary or higher than than elementary, secondary or higher than secondary education relative to secondary education relative to preparatory educationpreparatory education

The effect of education on entry to The effect of education on entry to marriage differed significantly by period of marriage differed significantly by period of marriage.marriage.– For each period women with secondary or For each period women with secondary or

above education had lower odds of first above education had lower odds of first marriage than women with preparatory marriage than women with preparatory education.education.

– The odds of marriage declined overtime for The odds of marriage declined overtime for women with less than preparatory education.women with less than preparatory education.

Summary Summary

The age at first marriage changed over time for The age at first marriage changed over time for Palestinian women.Palestinian women.

Women with moderate level of education have Women with moderate level of education have the highest probability of getting married. The the highest probability of getting married. The probability of women with less education level probability of women with less education level getting married is decreasing overtime.getting married is decreasing overtime.

Women with higher education get married at Women with higher education get married at relatively older age or do not get married at all relatively older age or do not get married at all as their probability of getting married remained as their probability of getting married remained almost constant over time.almost constant over time.