Marriage behavior response to prime-age adult mortality: Evidence from Malawi

This paper examines the effect of AIDS-related mortality of the prime-age adult population on marriage behavior among women in Malawi. A rise in prime-age adult mortality increases risks associated with the search for a marriage partner in the marriage market. A possible behavioral change in the mar...

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Main Authors: Ueyama, Mika, Yamauchi, Futoshi
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160223
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author Ueyama, Mika
Yamauchi, Futoshi
author_browse Ueyama, Mika
Yamauchi, Futoshi
author_facet Ueyama, Mika
Yamauchi, Futoshi
author_sort Ueyama, Mika
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper examines the effect of AIDS-related mortality of the prime-age adult population on marriage behavior among women in Malawi. A rise in prime-age adult mortality increases risks associated with the search for a marriage partner in the marriage market. A possible behavioral change in the marriage market in response to an increase in prime-age adult mortality is for marriage to occur earlier to avoid women?s exposure to HIV/AIDS risks under the condition that the risks are higher during singlehood. We test this hypothesis using micro data from Malawi, where prime-age adult mortality has drastically increased. In the analysis, we estimate prime-age adult mortality that sample women have observed during the adolescent period by utilizing retrospective information on the death of their siblings. Empirical analysis shows that excess prime-age adult mortality observed in the local marriage market (district) lowers the marriage age for females and reduces their premarital sexual activities. Since a lower age for first marriage implies less schooling completed, we expect that the average schooling achievement among women would decline. This behavioral change also implies a longer reproduction period during their marriage, which may lead to a higher fertility rate. However, the second implication should be discounted if the reduction of sexual activities also applies to the married population. Lower schooling attainment among women has further implications on human capital formation in the next generation.
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spelling CGSpace1602232025-11-06T06:04:35Z Marriage behavior response to prime-age adult mortality: Evidence from Malawi Ueyama, Mika Yamauchi, Futoshi impact HIV infections marriage sexual behaviour infectious diseases This paper examines the effect of AIDS-related mortality of the prime-age adult population on marriage behavior among women in Malawi. A rise in prime-age adult mortality increases risks associated with the search for a marriage partner in the marriage market. A possible behavioral change in the marriage market in response to an increase in prime-age adult mortality is for marriage to occur earlier to avoid women?s exposure to HIV/AIDS risks under the condition that the risks are higher during singlehood. We test this hypothesis using micro data from Malawi, where prime-age adult mortality has drastically increased. In the analysis, we estimate prime-age adult mortality that sample women have observed during the adolescent period by utilizing retrospective information on the death of their siblings. Empirical analysis shows that excess prime-age adult mortality observed in the local marriage market (district) lowers the marriage age for females and reduces their premarital sexual activities. Since a lower age for first marriage implies less schooling completed, we expect that the average schooling achievement among women would decline. This behavioral change also implies a longer reproduction period during their marriage, which may lead to a higher fertility rate. However, the second implication should be discounted if the reduction of sexual activities also applies to the married population. Lower schooling attainment among women has further implications on human capital formation in the next generation. 2008 2024-11-21T09:50:17Z 2024-11-21T09:50:17Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160223 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/161674 https://doi.org/10.1353/dem.0.0039 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Ueyama, Mika; Yamauchi, Futoshi. 2008. Marriage behavior response to prime-age adult mortality. IFPRI Discussion Paper 764. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160223
spellingShingle impact
HIV infections
marriage
sexual behaviour
infectious diseases
Ueyama, Mika
Yamauchi, Futoshi
Marriage behavior response to prime-age adult mortality: Evidence from Malawi
title Marriage behavior response to prime-age adult mortality: Evidence from Malawi
title_full Marriage behavior response to prime-age adult mortality: Evidence from Malawi
title_fullStr Marriage behavior response to prime-age adult mortality: Evidence from Malawi
title_full_unstemmed Marriage behavior response to prime-age adult mortality: Evidence from Malawi
title_short Marriage behavior response to prime-age adult mortality: Evidence from Malawi
title_sort marriage behavior response to prime age adult mortality evidence from malawi
topic impact
HIV infections
marriage
sexual behaviour
infectious diseases
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160223
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