Peer-reviewed article
Exploring adolescents’ agency and social norms in exercising their sexual reproductive rights to challenge child marriage: Evidence from Northern Uganda
Janestic Mwende Twikirize, D. Ainembabazi, Paul Fredrick Mugume ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how adolescents in Northern Uganda understand and exercise their sexual and reproductive rights in relation to child marriage. Researchers surveyed 424 adolescent girls and boys across six districts, finding that while most felt confident they could reject child marriage, only 16% knew they had the right to choose when and whom to marry. The research reveals a gap between adolescents' personal confidence and their actual knowledge of their rights, suggesting the need for education and life skills programmes to help young people resist child marriage despite family and social pressure.
Key points
- 85.4% of adolescents expressed confidence in their ability to reject child marriage, even with parental support for it
- Only 16% of adolescents demonstrated awareness of their right to decide when and whom to marry
- 21.5% of adolescents maintained that girls can marry at any age if parents or guardians approve
- One in three girls in Uganda marry before age eighteen
- Study calls for social work interventions integrating education, life skills training, self-awareness, assertiveness, and advocacy
Limitations
The study is descriptive and cross-sectional, measuring awareness and attitudes at one point in time without establishing cause and effect. It cannot tell us whether education interventions would actually change behaviour or reduce rates of child marriage.
Abstract
Child marriage remains a serious concern in Africa, and patriarchal norms exacerbate the problem. In Uganda, one in three girls marries before eighteen years. This study evaluates adolescents' agency in asserting their sexual and reproductive rights and challenging child marriage within the context of social norms, highlighting the consequences of child marriage. The study was conducted in six Northern Uganda districts, involving 424 adolescent girls and boys and 20 key informants. A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted utilising quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data were analysed at the bivariate level, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Majority (85.4%) expressed confidence in their ability to reject child marriage, even in cases where their parents supported it. Paradoxically, only 16% of adolescents demonstrated awareness of their right to decide when and whom to marry, while 21.5% maintained that it is acceptable for a girl to marry at any age, provided her parents or guardians approve. The study indicates that despite their confidence in personal agency, a significant number of adolescents struggle to challenge child marriage, highlighting the need for social work interventions that integrate education and life skills training, fostering self-awareness, assertiveness, effective communication, and advocacy to empower adolescents and resist harmful practices.