Kimberly Milbrath - India

In India’s capital of Delhi, Kimberly Milbrath worked with the MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child. MAMTA, a Hindi word for motherly affection, was established to address the health disparities faced by women and children in India. Milbrath worked on a policy initiative in the state of Rajasthan, focusing on early marriage and early pregnancy—cultural practices that are prevalent in several Indian states. Up to 60 percent of girls ages 14 to 19 are forced into marriage and, for many, a life of sexual and domestic servitude. “Health consequences can be severe for young brides who are expected to give birth, preferably to sons, but whose bodies have not yet completely developed,” said Milbrath. “These early pregnancies result in competition for nutrition between the mother and fetus, obstructed labor, babies of low birth weight, and high rates of maternal death.”