Global age disparity in marriage provides support for the role of mate choice in the evolution of maternal mortality and menopause

Abstract

Mate choice, marriage, and menopause are life-altering events affecting women’s health. It has been hypothesized that mate choice through age disparity in marriage may have contributed to the evolution of menopause and the persistence of maternal mortality. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore and document evidence for age disparity in marriage and evaluate its effects on maternal mortality. Data on couple’s age at marriage was collected from various sources and ethnic populations. The results showed that males were significantly older than females at first marriage in all populations analyzed. While age disparate relationships appeared universal, their effects on maternal mortality in present populations were modest (R2 = 0.43) and complex, with a multitude of factors affecting maternal mortality. However, it was observed that Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Nigeria all stood within the top 15 countries with the highest age disparities in marriage, maternal mortality, child marriage, and polygamy rates. The results from this study provided support for the mate choice theory of menopause and maternal mortality and suggested that past rates of child marriage and maternal mortality would have been higher and persistent, affecting women’s health.