: Surveys reveal that malnutrition and underweight childbirths are increasing in rural areas chiefly due to underage marriage of girls, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said. He said Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva revealed these findings recently and according to the findings most rural women get married early and have children as soon as they get married. This has resulted in underweight child births, the spokesman said. "Most rural women get married at a very early age. Some women are physically abused by their husbands and children born to these women become underweight, mentally retarded and weak," the spokesman said. The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has taken steps to educate the public through midwives on this issue to bring down the number of underweight child births. Reducing malnutrition is another objective of this programme, he said. The spokesman said Minister de Silva had said that midwives who reduce the number of underweight birth rates in their assigned areas will be considered for Health Awards next year.