| Summary: | The purpose of this study is to identify the socio-economic and demographic factors
affecting age at first marriage among women in South African. The data used is drawn
from the 2003 South African Demographic and Health Survey. Univariate, bivariate
and Cox regression were employed to examine the relationship between age at first
marriage and socio-economic and demographic factors. Marriage in South Africa
takes place late, with the mean age at marriage above 30 years. The findings from the
Cox-regression analysis indicates that age, education, population group, age at first
intercourse and age at first birth are significantly associated with early marriage while
wealth status and childhood place of residence are associated with late marriage. The
risk of first marriage was 58 percent lower for women with higher educational
attainment compared to women with no education. Policy implications of the study
are discussed. One such implication is to promote family life education across all
population groups. === Thesis (M.Soc.Sc. (Population studies) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2013
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