Peer-reviewed article
The Factors Related to Early Marriage of Ethnic Adolescent Girls in 3 Districts, 3 Northern Provinces of Lao PDR
Yang Ye, Somchay Phaignavong, Saiphone KHOTSAIGNO ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined the factors associated with early marriage among ethnic adolescent girls (Hmong, Khmu, and Akha) in three northern provinces of Laos. Researchers interviewed 136 people including village authorities, customary law leaders, parents, and girls across three districts. Low education levels, cultural gender inequality favoring sons, and girls' attitudes toward marriage for economic advancement were identified as the main drivers of early marriage. The study found that 26 percent of girls never attended school and educational inequality was the strongest predictor of early marriage.
Key points
- Low educational opportunity was the primary factor linked to early marriage (β=.681, p<.000)
- Cultural domestic inequality devaluing daughters was a secondary driver, with 96% of parents encouraging sons to maintain traditional practices
- 74% of girls married without parental consultation due to love attachment, and 96% did so voluntarily
- Only 19% of girls reached upper secondary school, while 26% never attended school
- Despite widespread practice, over 80% of parents opposed early marriage and recognized its inappropriateness
Limitations
The study uses cross-sectional data from a relatively small sample (136 people) in three specific districts, which may not be representative of all ethnic groups or regions in Laos. The purposive sampling method and reliance on self-reported data through questionnaires and interviews may introduce bias.
Abstract
This study intended to investigate the factors that related to early marriage of ethnic adolescent girls among Hmong, Khmu and Akha in 3 districts of three provinces as Xiengnguen district, Luang Prabang province, La district, Oudomxay province and Mai district, Phongsaly province. Data and information were collected via semi-structured interviews questionnaires and questionnaires from October to November 2025, by using purposive sampling to target the groups with total of 136 people, including village authorities, local customary law leaders, parents and adolescent girls. The quantitative data were analyzed by using SPSS and Kobo toolbox. Also, the qualitative information was consolidated and ranking from all responses. The keys study findings found that a widespread of early marriage is strongly linked to inequality of educational opportunity, having low education as the primary contributor to early marriage. As evidenced 19 percent reach upper secondary school, 33 percent attend lower secondary school, 22 percent studied at primary school, and 26 percent of adolescent never go to school in their life time. Domestic inequality that linked to culture as a secondary driver, clearly through devaluation of daughters. Sons received preferential treatment, with 96 percent of parents encouraging male children to maintain traditional practices and providing them greater opportunity. This disparity prompted adolescent girls to pursue marriage as an economic advancement. The third determinant was attitude of adolescent girls, surrounding by their circles and society, evidenced by 74 percent marrying without parental consultation due to love attachment and 96 percent doing so voluntarily. Materialistic aspirations further motivated self-initiated early marriages, as girls perceived matrimony as a pathway to stability and prospects. The findings reveal that low education β=.681, and p<.000, domestic gender inequality of the culture and tradition β=.51 and p<.001, and attitude β=.23, and p<.004 on autonomous decision-making as primary factors R2 =.644; F (4,64) =28.98, p<0.001, underlying early marriage. In contrary, majority of parents opposed the practice, with over 80 percent recognizing its inappropriateness, 93 percent rejecting parental exclusion from marriage decisions, and 60 percent acknowledging its legal inconsistency.