Page 21 - IJPS-11-3

International Journal of
Population Studies Nuptiality patterns among Ethiopian women

how individual lives are embedded within and shaped 2. Data and methods
by the larger historical and institutional contexts. By
adopting this theoretical lens, researchers can gain a more 2.1. Data source
nuanced understanding of how and why marriage patterns The EDHSs conducted in 2000 and 2016 were utilized for
evolve over time, rather than viewing them as isolated or this study. These surveys provide estimates of significant
ahistorical phenomena. demographic and health variables for the entire nation,
including urban and rural areas, as well as each of the
In 1993, Ethiopia introduced a formal population
policy that acknowledged the relationship between nine regions and the two city administrations. A two-
stage cluster sampling technique, stratified by residence,
development, the environment, resources, and population was employed to collect data from 645 enumeration areas
(Hailemariam et al., 2011). After the national population in the 2016 survey and 539 enumeration areas in the 2000
policy was formulated, several national and international survey. Demographics and health are widely recognized as
policies and strategies were introduced, including the a key source for tracking population indicators and critical
Ethiopian Revised Family Law Proclamation (Dejene & data in middle- and low-income nations due to their
Gurmu, 2022; The Revised Family Code of FDRE, 2000). highly comparable design across settings and time (Central
These reforms intended to align population dynamics Statistical Agency (CSA) [Ethiopia] & ICF, 2016; Central
with sustainable development goals, acknowledging Statistical Authority [Ethiopia] & ORC Macro, 2001).
the significant role of legal and policy frameworks in
shaping demographic trends and social outcomes. This Data on selected variables for the 1965 – 1969 and the
study borrowed the concept of the LCT to examine how 1985 – 1989 birth cohorts of women were obtained from
the transition to first marriage differs between two birth the 2000 and 2016 EDHS, respectively. The selection of
cohorts that experienced distinctly different historical, these cohorts allowed comparing cohort experiences.
policy, and socioeconomic conditions. The first group Comparing cohorts at similar ages helps isolate the effects of
of women in this study, born between 1965 and 1969, being born and coming of age in different eras, rather than
lived their youth during a period without the policy and conflating age and cohort effects (Aldy & Viscusi, 2008).
socioeconomic developments that the second cohort, born The experiences of these groups of women are particularly
between 1980 and 1984, experienced. relevant for identifying patterns in the timing and shifts
in the volume of marriage over time and the sources
Analyzing age at first marriage across different cohorts of changes in the timing and magnitude of marriage,
serves as a powerful lens to examine how marriage especially before and after the national population policy
patterns have transformed over time. By examining how and the revised family code of Ethiopia were promulgated.
age at first marriage varies across cohorts, researchers can
not only identify these correlations but also understand The information used in this study is freely accessible
their historical contexts (Elder Jr. & George, 2016). Thus, to the public at the following website: https://www.
transcending the limitations of cross-sectional studies and dhsprogram.com/data/dataset_admin/login_main.cfm
single-cohort studies, this study proposes a comparative (The DHS Program, 2023).
cohort analysis to highlight the dynamic interplay 2.2. Variables and measurements
between historical contexts and their impact on nuptiality
trends. A comparative analysis allowed the researchers to The response variable is the cumulative incidence of the
document not only the changing landscape of marriage but first marriage. The CIF provides the percentage of women
also connect it to the historical forces that shaped it. who experienced an event at any particular age, capturing
both the timing and the magnitude of the event (Pintilie,
To thoroughly analyze the factors contributing to 2006). In this analysis, marriage and union are used
changes in nuptiality over time, this study uses data from interchangeably. Age at first marriage is defined as the age
the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) at which a woman starts living in a consensual union or
and employs a decomposition analysis methodology. This legally recognized marriage (ICF, 2018).
methodology enables researchers to isolate the effects
of policy changes and socioeconomic developments The EDHS employs rigorous data procedures to ensure
on nuptiality trends, offering a robust framework for the accuracy of important dates, such as those related to
understanding the multifaceted nature of nuptiality marriage. This includes conducting data checks, resolving
patterns over time (Rahimi & Hashemi Nazari, 2021). inconsistencies in reports, and using methods to impute
Through this comprehensive approach, this study aims missing data (MacQuarrie & Juan, 2019).
to uncover the underlying drivers of change in marriage The DHS standard recode manual provides
patterns. descriptions of numerous variables (ICF, 2018), and

Volume 11 Issue 3 (2025) 15 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.3531