Formation of partnerships among young women and men in Pune district, Maharashtra

The KEM Hospital Research Centre (KEMHRC) is part of KEM Hospital, a tertiary care teaching hospital located in Pune. KEMHRC has been working for the past 30 years on issues relating to vulnerable sections of the community, including women, adolescents and children. Its work focuses on applied, problem oriented and problem solving research and intervention projects in rural and urban areas around Pune. The Population Council is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organisation that seeks to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future generations around the world and to help achieve a humane, equitable and sustainable balance between people and resources. The Council conducts biomedical, social science and public health research, and helps build research capacities in developing countries. Contents iii Acknowledgements v List of tables and figures vi Executive summary viii Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Background 1 Study objectives 2 Study setting 3 Study design 4 Characteristics of respondents' households 7 Structure of the report 7 Chapter 2: Individual characteristics, capabilities and behaviours 8 Socio-demographic profile 8 Self-confidence, mobility and decision-making 8 Sexual and reproductive health awareness 13 Attitudes 16 Alcohol and drug use and exposure to pornographic films 19 Chapter 3: Family connections and social networks 22 Family and parent interaction 22 Peer connections and influence 24 Chapter 4: Premarital romantic partnerships 26 Meeting and courtship 26 Forming a romantic partnership 27 Characteristics of premarital partnerships 28 Sexual relations with a romantic partner: Communication, condom use and consent 33 Chapter 5: Overall premarital sexual experiences, romantic and non-romantic 36 iv Chapter 6: Partnership formation in the context of marriage 39 Age at first marriage and spousal characteristics 39 Selection of spouse and marriage-related decision-making 40 Young women's social interaction and spousal intimacy within new marriages 42 Sexual experiences within marriage 43 Fertility and contraception 44 Chapter 7: Conclusion 46 The context of young people's lives 46 Formation of premarital romantic and casual partnerships 46 Formation of partnerships within marriage 47 Implications 48 References 50 Contributors 53 Formation of partnerships among young women and men in Pune district, Maharashtra v Acknowledgements This study has benefited hugely from the insights, cooperation and support of many. The study was supported by a grant to the Population Council from the Hewlett and MacArthur Foundations; we are grateful to the Foundations, and especially to Poonam Muttreja, for support over the course of the project. We would like to thank Saroj Pachauri …