Transition to marriage and parenthood among youth in Bihar

Delaying the transition to marriage and parenthood among young people has been a policy and program priority for several years in India. Several national-level policies formulated since 2000 have advocated special program attention to delay age at marriage and age at first birth. Despite these commitments, substantial proportions of girls continue to marry in adolescence. As recently as 2005–06, more than two-fifths of women aged 20–24 were married by 18 years nationally. Likewise, over one-fifth of women aged 20–24 had given birth before age 18 and two-fifths before age 20. While the magnitude of early marriage and childbearing has been widely documented, far less is known about the extent to which young people are involved in planning their marriage, how prepared they are for married life, and the nature of their married life. This policy brief documents the magnitude of early marriage and early childbearing in Bihar and sheds light on young people’s involvement in marriage-related planning, preparedness for married life, and the nature of married life

Youth in India: Situation and Needs 2006-2007, executive summary, Maharashtra

This executive summary presents, in brief, findings on the situation of youth in Maharashtra, part of a subnational study undertaken by the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, and the Population Council, New Delhi, as part of a project to collect information on key transitions experienced by youth in India. Transitions include those related to education, workforce participation, sexual activity, marriage, health and civic participation, the magnitude and patterns of young people’s sexual and reproductive practices before, within, and outside of marriage, as well as related knowledge, decision-making, and attitudes. The project was implemented in six states of India, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu

Youth in India: Situation and Needs 2006-2007, Andhra Pradesh

This report is the result of a sub-national study undertaken by the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai and the Population Council, New Delhi, as part of a project to collect information on key transitions experienced by youth in India, including those related to education, work force participation, sexual activity, marriage, health and civic participation; the magnitude and patterns of young people’s sexual and reproductive practices before, within and outside of marriage as well as related knowledge, decision-making and attitudes. The project was implemented in six states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu

Violence within marriage among young people in Tamil Nadu

Global attention to violence against women has increased significantly over the last decade. The recent United Nations General Assembly resolution called upon member states to intensify their efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women. In India, policies and programs have increasingly focused on preventing violence against women and supporting women who experience such violence. While several studies in India have highlighted the widespread prevalence of physical and sexual violence within marriage, little is known about violence within marriage among young people and the health consequences of those experiences for young women. This policy brief documents the perceptions of married young people in Tamil Nadu on wife beating, the magnitude of violence within marriage among them, and the associations between such experiences and adverse health outcomes for young women, and argues that sexual and reproductive health programs must address violence within marriage as a matter of rights and health

Youth in India: Situation and Needs 2006-2007, executive summary, Rajasthan

This executive summary presents, in brief, findings on the situation of youth in Rajasthan, part of a subnational study undertaken by the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, and the Population Council, New Delhi, as part of a project to collect information on key transitions experienced by youth in India. Transitions include those related to education, workforce participation, sexual activity, marriage, health and civic participation, the magnitude and patterns of young people’s sexual and reproductive practices before, within, and outside of marriage, as well as related knowledge, decision-making, and attitudes. The project was implemented in six states of India, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu

Romance and sex before marriage among young women and men in Jharkhand

Premarital partnerships among youth, including those that do not involve sexual relations, are widely discouraged in India. There is a widespread perception that youth do not find opportunities to mix and form romantic relationships and that premarital sex is negligible. These kinds of perceptions are often cited to argue against the provision of sex or family life education and sexual and reproductive health services to unmarried young people. While several small and unrepresentative studies have noted that sizable proportions of young people, particularly young men, are sexually active before marriage, the lack of rigorous and representative evidence on the levels and patterns of intimate partnerships among youth continues to hamper the designing of appropriate policies and programs to address young people’s sexual health needs. This policy brief documents the extent of premarital romantic and sexual relations experienced by young men and women in Jharkhand, and the extent to which premarital sexual experiences among young people are informed, safe, and wanted

Youth in India: Situation and Needs 2006-2007, executive summary, Tamil Nadu [Tamil]

This executive summary presents, in brief, findings on the situation of youth in Tamil Nadu, part of a subnational study undertaken by the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, and the Population Council, New Delhi, as part of a project to collect information on key transitions experienced by youth in India. Transitions include those related to education, workforce participation, sexual activity, marriage, health and civic participation, the magnitude and patterns of young people’s sexual and reproductive practices before, within, and outside of marriage, as well as related knowledge, decision-making, and attitudes. The project was implemented in six states of India, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu

Youth participation in civil society and political life in Rajasthan

Youth participation in civil society and political life is increasingly recognized as an important development objective. The opportunities for participation that young people experience in their communities may influence their development and the kind of transitions they make to adulthood. Behaviors and attitudes relating to community participation that individuals adopt as young people predict their lifelong civic affiliations and perspectives. In India, the National Youth Policy 2003 has underscored the role of India’s youth in political decision-making, and has argued for greater representation of youth in appropriate bodies as well as more extensive youth participation in the design and implementation of programs. There is a recognition that today’s youth can play an important role in influencing political processes and the socioeconomic development of the country. However, there is little evidence of the extent to which Indian youth participate in civil society and political life. This policy brief documents the participation of youth in civil society in Rajasthan, the extent to which they uphold secular attitudes, and their perceptions about and participation in political processes

Youth in India: Situation and Needs 2006-2007—Executive summary, Andhra Pradesh

This study, implemented by the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai and the Population Council, New Delhi is the first-ever subnationally representative study conducted to identify key transitions experienced by married and unmarried youth in India. In recognition of the importance of investing in young people, several national policies and programs formulated since 2000 have underscored a commitment to addressing the multiple needs of this group in India. Effective implementation of policies and programs, however, has been handicapped by lack of evidence on young people’s situation and needs. This study focused on married and unmarried young women and unmarried young men aged 15–24 and, because of the paucity of married young men in the younger ages, married men aged 15–29 in both rural and urban settings. The study collected information pertaining to key transitions experienced by youth, and the patterns of young people’s sexual and reproductive practices within and outside marriage. The study was conducted in six states: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. This report focuses on findings from the survey conducted in Andhra Pradesh

Transition to marriage and parenthood among youth in Jharkhand

Delaying the transition to marriage and parenthood among young people has been a policy and program priority for a number of years in India. For example, several national-level policies formulated since 2000 have advocated special program attention to delay age at marriage and age at first birth. Despite these commitments, substantial proportions of girls continue to marry in adolescence. As recently as in 2005–06, more than two-fifths of women aged 20–24 were married by 18 years nationally. Likewise, over one-fifth of women aged 20–24 had given birth before age 18 and two-fifths before age 20. While the magnitude of early marriage and childbearing has been widely documented, far less is known about the extent to which young people are involved in planning their marriage, how prepared they are for married life, and the nature of their married life. This policy brief documents the magnitude of early marriage and early childbearing in Jharkhand and sheds light on young people’s involvement in marriage-related planning, preparedness for married life, and the nature of married life