In South Sudan, child marriage is often positioned as a cultural practice tied to conflict and displacement as well as gender norms affirming that girls should marry. Based on findings of a multi-sectoral gender assessment conducted by Save the Children in Rumbek, Torit, Malualkon, Bor and Kapoeta, our paper draws attention to multiple, connected drivers of child marriage. Drawing specifically on findings related to child marriage, we suggest the need to understand child marriage in the context of cycles of poverty and inter-clan fighting. In many communities, cattle form the basis for the ‘bride price’, driving cattle raiding, due to pressure on males to marry. The ability to pay the bride price may be an indicator of manhood in some pastoralist communities of South Sudan. We suggest that while humanitarian interventions tend to fixate on empowering girls or addressing gender norms girls face, less attention is placed on the ‘demand side’ of child marriage – on the gender norms pushing boys and men to marry girls. Our paper emphasises the importance of tackling norms from both the perspective of girls as well as boys and men within a broader context of improving livelihoods in South Sudan.
Michelle Lokot, Lisa DiPangrazio, Dorcas Acen et al.
Background: Child marriage is a serious public health issue with dire implications at the individual and societal level. Almost half of all child marriages globally originate from South Asia. The aim of this study is to identify consistent factors associated with and resulting from child marriage in South Asia through a review of available evidence. Methods: This systematic review adhered to the 2015 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Six computerized bibliographic databases, namely PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, Ovid Medline, PUBMED, and Scopus were searched. Retrieved studies were exported to EndNote and screened for eligibility using pre-determined criteria. The quality of the included studies was rated using 14 quality appraisal criteria derived from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Tool. Results: A total of 520 articles were retrieved from six databases. Of these, 13 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in this study. Factors consistently associated with child marriage in South Asia were rural residence, low level of education, poor economic background, low exposure to mass media and religion (Hindu and Muslim in particular countries). Maternal health care factors resulting from child marriage included: low utilization of antenatal care services, low institutional delivery, and low delivery assistance by a skilled birth attendant. Conclusions: Child marriage results from an interplay of economic and social forces. Therefore, to address the complex nature of child marriage, efforts targeting improvement in education, employment, exposure to health information via mass media, and gender egalitarianism are required. This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO [CRD42020190410].
S Daarwin Subramanee, Kingsley Agho, Josyula K. Lakshmi et al.
Background: Teenage pregnancies is shaped by a mix of cultural, social, and economic factors that vary globally. In some societies, it’s seen as a natural milestone, while in others, it’s a life-altering events, often exacerbated by lack of support and preparation. Adolescent girls face health risks due to physical immaturity and limited healthcare access. Key factors include socioeconomic disadvantages, family dynamics, peer pressure, and educational barriers. In low-income countries, issues like early marriage, malnutrition, and lack of support systems worsen the problem. The WHO reports 11% of births are girls under 20, with 95% in low and middle-income countries. Countries like India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, especially rural areas, report high pregnancy rates, driven by cultural practices like child marriage. In developed countries, teenage pregnancy often relates to balancing child-rearing with education, while in developing countries, it results from early or forced marriages. This study correlate the knowledge and attitudes regarding Teenage Pregnancy among adolescent girls in a selected community area (baghanki) Gurugram, Haryana. Methods: This is a questionnaire-based study including 60 adolescent girls. Results: A majority of the participants (50%) demonstrated adequate knowledge, while 40% had moderate knowledge and 10% had inadequate knowledge regarding teenage pregnancies. Attitudinally, 58.3% of participants had positive attitude and 33.3% had a neutral attitude, and 8.3% had a negative attitude. A significant positive correlation (r =0.76) was found between knowledge and attitude.
Komal Kadian, Kelvin Joseph Shajan, Aditya Aditya et al.
Girl-child marriage, a practice defined as any formal marriage or informal union where the female is under the age of 18. Girl-child marriage is a public health concern that represents a profound violation of human rights and a significant impediment to the development of young girls [1,2]. Child marriage perpetuates gender inequality, disproportionately impacting girls [3]. The practice has devastating consequences on the lives of millions of girls worldwide such as sexually transmitted infections, poor reproductive outcomes, intimate partner violence and mental ill health. Across the globe, one in every 5 girls below 18 years is married, with the prevalence ranging from 23% to 19% in the past decade. Over 640 million women alive today were married as children [4]. In Africa about 30 million girls got married before 18 years, with the practice being worse in West and Central Africa, where nearly 4 in 10 young women were married before age 18. This prevalence has remained constant for the last ten years [5]. In the Sahel belt the prevalence is as high as 70% [4]. Lower levels of child marriage are seen in Eastern and Southern Africa at 32%. Nigeria has one of the highest rates of child marriage globally with about 22 million girls and women affected with significant regional variations [6]. Current reports show that about 30% of girls in Nigeria are married before the age of 18, and 12% are married before the age of 15 [7]. This high prevalence is not uniform across the country, with significantly higher rates in the northern regions and rural areas [8]. The causes of girl-child marriage are complex and multifaceted. Poverty is a significant driver, as families may view early marriage as a means of economic survival. The level of education of the parents also play a role[8]. Cultural and traditional beliefs contribute to the practice, with some communities viewing early marriage as a way to preserve family honor or ensure social status [8,9]. Lack of access to quality education, particularly for girls, further exacerbates the problem, as girls who are out of school are more vulnerable to early marriage [5]. Additionally, inadequate enforcement of existing laws and policies contributes to the persistence of this practice, as the Child Rights Acts prohibits marriage before age 18 [10]. The health consequences of girl-child marriage are severe. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for girls aged 15-19 globally [11]. Early marriage significantly increases the risk of maternal mortality and morbidity, as young girls' bodies are not fully developed for delivery. Childbirth before age 19 leads to obstetrics complications [12,13]. Furthermore, early marriage often leads to psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and social isolation [14]. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 aims to end this harmful practice against the girl child by 2030 [15]. In Nigeria more than 40% of women between ages 20 and 24 were married before 18 years with varying prevalence across regions. The prevalence of girl-child marriage is about 12% in the southern part and about 60% in the north-west region of the country [3,7]. About 43% of married women between 15 -49 years were married before 18 years [16]. In the southeastern Nigeria, the prevalence is about 33% and the prevalence of high adolescent fertility rates was reported to be the highest in the south [17]. This highlights the need for regional strategies to address the root causes of the practice, including poverty and gender inequality. While national statistics provide a broad overview, there is a critical need for localized research to understand the specific dynamics of girl-child marriage in Abia State and, particularly, in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area (LGA). The socio-cultural and economic context of this specific community may present unique challenges, factors that contribute to their vulnerability and opportunities for intervention. It is crucial to understand the specific context within the LGA to develop effective strategies to combat this harmful practice and safeguard the future of young girls in the community in line with eradicating early girl marriage by the year 2030 [18]. Although the state has adopted Child Rights Acts since 2006, its implementation is weak and this study would possibly assess the effectiveness of its implementation [19]. This study aims to determine the prevalence determinants and perceived effects of girl-child marriage among married women in Osisioma Ngwa LGA, Abia State, Nigeria.
Olugbemi Oluseyi Motilewa, Faith Ubani, Kudighe Patrick Udoh
BACKGROUND: Previous studies on child marriage have revealed its association with adverse health behaviors and outcomes, such as increased fertility, reduced modern family planning, less safe delivery, mental health disorders, suicidal attempt, and ideation, poor socio-economic status, morbidity, and mortality of children under- five. In this study, we investigate the association between child marriage and the utilization of maternal healthcare services in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: We utilized data from 29 sub-Saharan African countries' Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 2010 and 2018. A total of 36,215 childbearing young women between the ages of 20-24 years constituted our sample size. A multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to examine the association between child marriage and the utilization of maternal healthcare services, and the results were presented as crude and adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Young women who experienced child marriage were less likely to have ≥4 antenatal care visits during pregnancy [cOR = 0.60, CI = 0.57-0.63] compared to those who did not experience child marriage, and this was persistent after controlling for individual and community-level factors [aOR = 0.88, CI = 0.84-0.93]. Young women who experienced child marriage were less likely to use skilled birth attendance during delivery [cOR = 0.45, CI = 0.43-0.48] compared to those who did not experience child marriage, and this was persistent after controlling for individual and community-level factors [aOR = 0.87, CI = 0.82-0.93]. Young women who experienced child marriage were less likely to use postnatal care services [cOR = 0.79, CI = 0.75-0.82] compared to those who did not experience child marriage, but this was insignificant after controlling for individual and community-level factors. CONCLUSION: Our study found child marriage to be a major contributor to the low use of maternal healthcare services, including antenatal care visit and the use of skilled birth attendance during child delivery. Hence, there is a need to develop an intervention to address child marriage in sub-Saharan Africa and strengthen existing ones. In addition, framework that considers child marriage as a key determinant of maternal healthcare utilization must be developed as part of policies in sub-Saharan African countries to enable universal achievement of low maternal mortality ratio by 2030 as a target of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah, Eugene Budu, Abdul‐Aziz Seidu et al.
BACKGROUND: Previous research suggests that child marriage may be accelerated during times of crisis and insecurity as resources are scarce and child marriage may be a survival strategy for girls and their families. In 2017, the Rohingya experienced a mass displacement to Bangladesh in response to escalating violence in Myanmar. This displacement has resulted in an estimated population of nearly 1 million Rohingya living in Cox's Bazar. METHODS: = 24) working in Cox's Bazar to understand their experience of living or working in the camps, preferences for timing of marriage, and marriage practices in Myanmar and in the camps. We also interviewed Bangladeshis in the host community to complement our understanding of marriage in the camps and its influence in the broader community. Our primary objective was to describe how displacement influenced marriage timing and practices. RESULTS: We found that child marriage is a strong cultural phenomenon among the Rohingya, primarily rooted in socio-cultural and religious beliefs around readiness for marriage. Although child marriage was practiced by the Rohingya in Myanmar, specific state law and oppression by military forces prevented many from marrying before age 18. Now this preference is more easily practiced in the camps in Bangladesh where the displaced Rohingya experience less marriage regulation. Host community participants perceive the presence of the Rohingya as encouraging both polygamy and child marriage in their communities, leading to tension among the host community. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support evidence that conflict and displacement increase child marriage in populations already vulnerable to child marriage by exacerbating gender inequities. However, our findings also suggest group norms around religious and cultural preferences for age at marriage play a significant role in post-displacement behaviors surrounding marriage.
BACKGROUND: Despite an understanding of the circumstances of child marriage, including how it limits agency and erodes childhood support systems, not much is known about the relationship between child marriage and mental health of child brides, especially in the sub-Saharan African context. To address this gap, we use large-scale population-based data from ever-married women aged 18-45 in Niger (n = 2764) and Ethiopia (n = 4149) to examine the association of child marriage with overall psychological well-being and its sub-domains: depression, anxiety, positive well-being, vitality, self-control and general health. We complement this with qualitative data from Ethiopia to further contextualize the psychological well-being of child brides. METHODS: Multivariate linear regressions were conducted to estimate the association between child marriage and overall psychological well-being and its sub-domains. Thematic qualitative analysis was conducted to further understand the lives of child brides. RESULTS: Our regression analysis found significant negative associations between very early marriage (marriage at 15 years or earlier) and overall psychological well-being in both Niger and Ethiopia. With the exception of self-control, all sub-domains of psychological well-being - depression, anxiety, positive well-being, vitality and general health - were negatively associated with very early marriage. In addition, in the qualitative analysis, Ethiopian child brides reported suffering emotional distress and depression induced by the burden of handling marital responsibilities at an early age. CONCLUSION: The study highlights that even in settings where child marriage is normative, marrying very early is associated with negative outcomes. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms that make those married during early adolescence particularly vulnerable to psychological distress, so that programs can address those vulnerabilities.
Neetu A. John, Jeffrey Edmeades, Lydia Karuta Murithi
The article critically examined the socio-economic effects of early marriage on the girl-child in Nigeria, using Delta State as a case study with which to generalize on the country because of similarities in the practice. Early marriage is not new among many ethnic groups of the world particularly in Nigeria. However, the practice is the product of tradition, culture and religion. The study which utilized the in-depth and key informant interviews and group focus discussions revealed that child marriage is a common feature in the communities studied with its attendant negative reverberations on the girl-child and society. It further showed that it may likely not discontinue despite conventions against it. The study however recommended intervention strategies to equip the girls in all ramifications to free them from the burden of forced marriages and guarantee their future wellbeing.
Child marriage remains a deeply ingrained tradition in India, which has significant consequences for the rights and welfare of girls. This article explores the various aspects of child marriage, including its historical origins, widespread social customs, and the negative effects it has on girls' right to education in India. By utilizing a wide array of scholarly viewpoints and concrete data, the article emphasizes the pressing necessity for collaborative endeavours to eliminate this detrimental behavior. The study utilizes an empirical methodology for the current investigation. The data was collected from many prior studies and information accessible on official websites. The Child Marriage Prohibition Act of 2006, together with additional laws like the “Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act” and the “Juvenile Justice Act”, have been implemented to establish a structure for the prevention, protection, and prosecution of child marriage and sexual offenses against children. The discussion emphasizes the significance of holistic approaches that tackle the underlying factors of child marriage, such as poverty, limited access to education, and gender bias. It highlights the importance of continuous endeavours to question established social standards and advance gender parity, while also allocating resources to enhance girls' access to education, healthcare, and economic prospects.
Introduction: Girl child marriage is an example of a human rights violation, the unfortunate consequences of which have raised growing concerns in the health system and have become a development challenge. Therefore, this research was conducted to identify the factors driving girl child marriage based on the Socio-Ecological Model. Methods: The present qualitative study employed guided content analysis and a deductive approach to identify the driving factors behind girl child marriage in Bam City. Sampling was targeted among Women aged 15-30 got married under the age of 15, family members, informants, and policymakers. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Hsieh and Shannon approach and MAXQDA software. Results: The data was classified into five categories: individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and society. Individual factors were classified into biological, psychological, and demographic factors. Interpersonal factors were categorized into two categories: family structure, Ineffective interactions and social support. Organizational factors included Weakness in the education and care system. Community factors included the economic situation governing the society. The society factors were divided into two categories: Cultural and social factors governing the society, and Weakness in policy making and legislation. Discussion: The findings showed that the socio-ecological model is a suitable framework for explaining the driving factors of child marriage. Girl child marriage is not merely a personal or familial decision; rather, it is influenced by the interactions of different systems that can either exacerbate or mitigate the issue. Consequently, the management, control, and prevention of Girl child marriage necessitate comprehensive efforts at regional, national, and international levels. In addition to creating platforms for the empowerment of girls at both national and regional levels, international policies can also foster a supportive environment.
Asma Pourtaheri, Mehrsadat Mahdizadeh, Hadi Tehrani et al.
