SOCIOECONOMIC AND FAMILIAL STATUS OF WOMEN ASSOCIATED WITH AGE AT FIRST MARRIAGE IN 3 ISLAMIC SOCIETIES

Using data from the Demographic and Health Surveys, this paper examine s age at marriage among women in Egypt, Jordan and Indonesia. Early ma rriage has declined substantially over the last few decades. Women who marry young tend to picture the ideal family as relatively large, the y have more children, and are less likely to use contraceptives. Early marriage is also associated with lower educational attainment and low er rates of employment. Thus, changing patterns of marriage have impor tant implications for the future familial and socioeconomic roles of w omen.