Associations between Women's Age at First Cohabitation, Education and Lifetime Outcomes in Kenya and Nigeria

Bamidele E. Ola, Hong Kong Baptist University

Studies have shown that early marriage is negatively associated women’s education and other life outcomes. However, our knowledge of possible changes in outcomes if a woman cohabits early (before her 18th birthday), but still attains high education is grossly limited. Using DHS data of Kenya (2014, n=17,805) and Nigeria (2013, n=22,789), I showed women’s mean age at first cohabitation at national, subnational and rural-urban residences. Fitting multivariate logistic regression models at p-value <0.05, I explored background factors influencing girl’s early exposure to cohabitation (GEEC) and correlated GEEC with individual’s socio-economic outcomes in adulthood. Results show that 31% in Kenya and 48% in Nigeria cohabited early. Living in rural areas, belonging to certain sub-national, ethnic and religious groups significantly increased the likelihood of GEEC. Likewise, GEEC is significantly associated with low socio-economic outcomes, but effects are strongly attenuated by secondary education. Studies and policies should focus more on early cohabitation.