Determinants of Food Insecurity: The Role of Child Marriage and Socioeconomic Factors in Indonesia

This research aims to empirically analyze the impact of child marriage on household food insecurity using detailed microdata from Indonesia. Specifically, the study examines the relationship between age at marriage and various indicators of food insecurity, including food availability, access, and stability within households. Child marriage, defined as marriage before the age of 18, remains prevalent in many developing countries, including Indonesia. Early marriage often leads to early childbearing and increased dependency ratios, which can strain household resources and undermine food security. This study uses data from the 2022 National Socioeconomic Survey (SUSENAS), conducted by the Statistics Indonesia (BPS). The study classifies the research sample into three groups: (i) individuals who engaged in child marriage, (ii) women who engaged in child marriage, and (iii) men who engaged in child marriage. The results of the logit regression analysis show that child marriage is positively associated with household food insecurity. Moreover, the risk of food insecurity tends to be greater among men who marry as children compared to women in similar circumstances, even after controlling for socioeconomic factors. By providing empirical evidence on how child marriage contributes to household food insecurity, the findings of this study can inform targeted policies and interventions to address both child marriage and food insecurity, thereby promoting improved socioeconomic outcomes for affected households.