Page 30 - IJPS-11-3

International Journal of
Population Studies Nuptiality patterns among Ethiopian women

4.6. Implications for research and policy Author contributions

The study’s findings indicate geographic variability in Conceptualization: All authors
nuptiality patterns. Future research should focus on elucidating Formal analysis: Dame Kedir, Tariku Dejene
the regional variability and investigating the fundamental Investigation: All authors
causes of spatial differences in nuptiality patterns within a Methodology: All authors
similar national policy context. This study provides evidence Writing–original draft: Dame Kedir
that socioeconomic shifts significantly influence changes in Writing–review & editing: All authors
nuptiality patterns in Ethiopia. These changes directly impact
fertility transitions, especially in sub-Saharan countries. Ethics approval and consent to participate
The findings highlight the potential for designing This study used secondary data from the 2011 to
effective socioeconomic policies that drive demographic 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys. The
transformation and result in a demographic dividend. methodologies and questionnaires for these surveys were
By understanding the interplay between socioeconomic reviewed and approved by the ICF/ORC Institutional
factors, nuptiality patterns, and fertility transitions, Review Board. In addition, the study protocols received
policymakers can develop targeted strategies to leverage ethical approval from the Institutional Review Boards of
demographic dividends and promote sustainable the Ethiopian Ministry of Science and Technology and
development in the region. the Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute. All
interviews were conducted after obtaining verbal consent
5. Conclusions from the respondents.
The results in this study demonstrated that changes in Consent for publication
nuptiality patterns were explained by a reduction in
cumulative incidence of marriage (magnitude), a shift Not applicable.
in the timing of entry into the first marriage, and a 46%
reduction in marital dissolution across the two birth Availability of data
cohorts. This study identified three key sources of changes The Demographic and Health Survey data used in this study
in nuptiality patterns: socioeconomic factors, spatial are publicly available for use free of charge. The data can
drivers, and coefficient effects. be obtained upon request through the following website:

Marriage has traditionally been an early and nearly https://dhsprogram.com/data/available-datasets.cfm.
universal social institution in Ethiopia. However, this References
study found a shift from extremely early marriage to early
but nearly universal marriage, indicating that women are Alazbih, N.M., Kaya, A.H., Mengistu, M.Y., & Gelaye, K.A. (2023).
delaying getting married. In addition, the findings revealed Determinants of time to first marriage and birth intervals
that socioeconomic factors such as occupation and among women of child bearing age in Dabat Health and
education level, alongside spatial drivers such as region, demographic surveillance system site, Northwest Ethiopia.
significantly accounted for the reduction in the cumulative PLoS One, 18(2):e0281997.
incidence of marriage. Further research is needed to reveal https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0281997
unknown factors that may contribute to the decline in Aldy, J.E., & Viscusi, W.K. (2008). Adjusting the value of a
marriage rates. statistical life for age and cohort effects. The Review of
Economics and Statistics, 90(3):573-581.
Acknowledgments
https://doi.org/10.1162/rest.90.3.573
The authors would like to thank the Ethiopian Statistical Alteneiji, E. (2023). Value changes in gender roles: Perspectives
Services (formerly the Central Statistics Agency of from three generations of Emirati women. Cogent Social
Ethiopia) and the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Sciences, 9(1):2184899.
Survey for providing the data used for this study.
https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2184899
Funding Amoo, O.E. (2017). Trends and determinants of female age at
None. first marriage in Sub-Saharan Africa (1990-2014): What has
changed? African Population Studies, 31(1):3565-3577.
Conflict of interest https://doi.org/10.11564/31-1-1024
The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Asfaw, L.S., & Alene, G.D. (2023). Marital dissolution and

Volume 11 Issue 3 (2025) 24 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.3531