Dynamics of child marriage and marital timing in Nigeria: A retrogression or progression?

The researcher assessed trends and patterns of marital timing and child marriage (CM) among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. Four rounds of Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data-set were used (1990-2013). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Cox-regression model with time-dependent covariates (α = 0.05). CM (<18 years) falls consistently from 63.8% in 1990 to 56.3% in 2013. The hazard ratio of CM was 1.24 (CI =1.19-1.28, p < .001), 1.24 (CI =1.19-1.29, p < .001), and 1.05 (CI =1.02-1.07, p < .001) times higher in 1990, 2003, and 2008, respectively than 2013. The region, education, religion, and ethnicity are common predictors of CM in all the survey rounds.