THE current decline in the number of marriages occurring annually, coupled with an increase in divorce rates in Jamaica and other Caribbean countries, is posing a serious threat to public health, social well-being and national development.

This view was expressed by regional technical director of the Southern Regional Health Authority Dr Michael Coombs, as he addressed the third Caribbean Regional Conference of the World Congress of Families in Barbados, last month.

Dr Coombs explained that statistics from the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) in Jamaica indicate that the number of marriages declined from 26,000 in 2005, to 15,500 in 2015.

“In light of population growth for this period, this represents a significant drop in marriage rates (number of marriages per 1000 population). Coupled with this is the increase in divorce rates (divorce per 100 marriages), which increased from 6.96 in 2005 to 11.57 in 2010, according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica. There are very similar trends in countries such as Barbados based on Caricom demographic statistics,” Dr Coombs explained.

“This has undoubtedly contributed to the reality in Caribbean societies where many children are born outside of wedlock. In Jamaica, 85 per cent of children are born to unmarried mothers, according to statistics from the RGD in 2014. Based on the established impact of marriage on the adults involved, and especially on the health and wellness of children, these trends pose a very serious threat to public health, social well-being and indeed national development,” Dr Coombs continued.

He noted that the current body of research consistently finds that “Married men and women are more likely to live longer, to be physically and mentally healthier, to be happier, to recover from illness quicker, are more successful, and generally take better care of themselves and avoid risky behaviours.

“The health benefits are so significant, in fact, that one sociologist described them as being as ‘large as the benefit from giving up smoking’.”

He said that studies show that a child living with a single mother is 14 times more likely to suffer serious physical abuse than a child living with married, biological parents; and a child whose mother cohabits with a man other than the child’s father is 33 times more likely to suffer serious physical child abuse.

He told the conference that, based on research, “Children raised in intact, married families are more likely to attend college, are physically and emotionally healthier, are less likely to be physically or sexually abused, less likely to use drugs or alcohol and to commit delinquent behaviours, have a decreased risk of divorcing when they get married, are less likely to become pregnant/impregnate someone as a teenager, and are less likely to be raised in poverty.”

Dr Coombs, who is also the founder and chair of the National Association for the Family, called for governments, non-governmental organisations, the church and civil society to act with urgency to promote marriage.