Determinants of adolescent marriage in Turkey

Abstract

Although the age at flrst marriage tends to increase in Turkey, it stili corresponds in the adolescent period. As the age at flrst marriage determines largely the onset of sexual activity and is closely linked to age at flrst birth, it is one of the important factors affecting lifetime fertility by extending the period of fertility with the phenomenon of early childbearing. It is also known that fertility among this age group affect matema\ and child health negatively. The main purpose of the study is to explore the probable determinants of adolescent marriage in Turkey and to provide an insight for the explanation of adolescent marriage. The data source used is the 1998 Turkish Demographic and Health Survey. The fmdings of the analysis conflrm the signiflcant role of education on adolescent marriage. Adolescent marriage is more prevalent in rural areas and more frequently found in the East ofthe country.