Page 42 - IJPS-11-3

International Journal of
Population Studies Marital dissolution in India

Table 5. (Continued)
Background characteristics North Central East Northeast West South
Exposure to mass media
Not at all 0.95 1.05 1.11 2.22 2.45 4.27
Partially exposed 0.95 1.01 1.24 1.89 1.84 2.18
Fully exposed 1.06 0.81 3.3 2.38 2.32 1.53
Wealth status
Poorest 0.97 1.25 1.41 2.37 3.4 4.66
Poorer 0.99 0.98 1.01 1.77 2.1 4.1
Middle 0.94 0.9 0.98 1.64 2.43 2.58
Richer 0.95 0.99 1.35 1.89 1.87 1.74
Richest 0.96 0.91 1.08 2.63 1.18 1.2
Residence
Urban 1.29 1.43 1.88 2.62 2.05 2.23
Rural 0.78 0.88 1.01 1.86 1.89 2.35
Total 0.96 1.02 1.21 2.00 1.95 2.30
Source: Computed from individual data of NFHS-5.
Abbreviations: OBC: Other backward class; SC: Scheduled caste; ST: Scheduled tribe; NFHS-5: National Family Health Surveys.

women who reported being infertile had a substantially odds of marital dissolution compared to those who started
higher divorce rate, especially concentrated in the south cohabiting before turning 18. However, in the southern
(9.11%) compared to the north (3.06%), central (3.59%), region, women who started cohabitation at age 30 or
east (4.33%), and west (5.42%) regions. In southern states, above (OR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.170 – 1.960) faced notably
women with no exposure to mass media (4.27%) are more higher risks of marital dissolution compared to those
susceptible to marital breakdowns in terms of separation or below 18 years of age. Ever-married women without sons
divorce compared to other regions. In addition, there is a (OR = 7.457; 95% CI = 6.472 – 8.602) were more likely to
higher prevalence of marital dissolution among women who experience marital dissolution than the women who have.
were not related to their first husband before marriage than In all regions of the nation, the scenario is indifferent. Those
those who were related, the rate being particularly evident women who declared themselves infecund (OR = 2.043;
in the southern (2.50%) and western (2.02%) regions. In all 95% CI = 1.870 – 2.233) have significantly higher odds of
regions, women who live in urban areas exhibit higher rates marital dissolution. As for the education level, compared
of marital dissolution (south: 2.23%; west: 2.05%; north- to the respondents who have attended higher education,
east: 2.26%; east: 1.88%; central: 1.43%; and north: 1.29%) the respondents who have not attended school ever (OR =
compared to women who live in rural areas. 1.140; 95% CI = 1.029 – 1.266) have significantly higher
odds of marital dissolution. The women who attended
3.4. Factors associated with marital dissolution primary education (OR = 1.095; 95% CI = 1.004 – 1.194) and
those who attended secondary education (OR = 1.052, 95%
The region-wise binary regression results for marital CI = 0.860 – 1.283) were more prone to marital dissolution
dissolution and its determinants are presented in compared to highly educated women. Furthermore,
Table 6. Except for exposure to mass media (p > 0.05), lack of exposure to mass media (OR = 1.052; 95% CI =
all other factors were predicted to significantly influence 0.847 – 1.294) and partial exposure (OR = 1.124; 95% CI
marital dissolution (p < 0.05). Among demographic = 0.913 – 1.370) were correlated with higher risks of marital
factors, women born between 1969 and 1979 (odds ratio dissolution compared to full exposure to mass media and
[OR] = 3.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.911 – 3.980) communication facilities. Women related to their first
were significantly associated with higher odds of marital husband before marriage (OR = 0.774, 95% CI = 0.717 –
dissolution, indicating that ever-married women from 0.836) had lower odds of marital dissolution, particularly
earlier birth cohorts experienced greater odds of marital prominent in southern states (OR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.608
dissolution compared to younger women. Across India, – 1.702) compared to other regions. We discovered from
women who began their first cohabitation between ages 22 this regression model that higher income was linked to a
and 29 (OR = 0.867; 95% CI = 0.804 – 0.918) had lower lower likelihood of marital dissolution. For example, the

Volume 11 Issue 3 (2025) 36 https://doi:10.36922/ijps.1681