Peer-reviewed article
Effects of early marriage among women married before reaching 18 years old (qualitative study approach).
Gelchu Adola S, Wirtu D ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This qualitative study explored the effects of early marriage on 25 women in Ethiopia's Guji zone who were married before age 18. The research identified three main areas of impact: the drivers of early marriage (abduction and arranged marriage), the serious consequences (emotional and moral harm, health risks, school dropout, poverty, violence and divorce, and lack of life skills), and community attitudes toward the practice. The study emphasizes that addressing early marriage requires coordinated action across health, education, legal, and community sectors, plus awareness programs and support for affected women.
Key points
- Early marriage causes emotional and moral damage to girls
- Early marriage is a risk factor for maternal and child health problems
- Early marriage is a major cause of girls dropping out of school
- Abduction and arranged marriage are the primary drivers of early marriage in the study area
- Community members recognize early marriage as a harmful cultural practice that girls should be protected from
Limitations
This qualitative study with 25 participants provides in-depth understanding of experiences but cannot quantify the prevalence or severity of effects across the broader population. The phenomenological approach captures lived experiences but does not establish causal mechanisms or comparative evidence with unmarried peers.
Abstract
Background The consequences of early marriage have become a global concern for young women. The detrimental effects of early marriage disproportionately affect girls. Regarding its effects in poor nations like Ethiopia, there is a dearth of data. As a result, this study offers baseline, first-hand, and updated information for both the nation and the study area. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of early marriage on Guji women who were married before the age of 18. Methods This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach and was carried out from January to April 2024. An in-depth interview technique was employed to collect the data. The interviews were conducted in the Oromo language. A purposive sampling technique was applied to choose the study participants. A total of 25 women who met the eligibility criteria were selected. A thematic data analysis approach was employed to analyze the data in this study. Results Three themes, 10 subthemes, and more than hundreds of codes were extracted after the interview data were analyzed. The main themes and subthemes of this study were as follows: 1-Precipitators of early marriage (abduction and arranged marriage); 2-Consequences of early marriage (emotional damage, moral damage, early marriage is a risk factor for maternal and child health, early marriage is a major cause for girls to drop out of school, poverty, gender-based violence and divorce, lack of essential life skills); and 3-Attitudes toward early marriage (early marriage is a harmful cultural practice; girls should be protected). Conclusion The study's findings illustrated the multidimensional effect of early marriage, necessitating the involvement of numerous sectors and stakeholders. The community, religious leaders, the health, education, and legal sectors, as well as the parents of young girls, should all take an active role in delaying early marriage. This indicates the development of policies that permit cooperation amongst all relevant parties. Creating awareness among girls, families, and the community through community-based education is crucial. Early married women should participate in intervention programs to provide their experience to young girls. Women who are victims of early marriage must receive full support to mitigate its negative consequences.