Background: Over the last two decades, early marriage in the Gambia declined significantly (from 58% to 30%), however this rate is still high. The reasons for the decline but continuing practice of early marriage, despite existing legislation prohibiting child marriage, are not very well understood. Very few studies have been conducted to find out what and how local factors influence decisions about early marriage in the Gambia. More information is therefore needed on underlying reasons for the persistence of early marriage in the Gambia so that program managers can use this information to design strategies to decrease early marriages. Methods: The study was conducted in 24 rural settlements in Lower Baddibu District in the North Bank Region of the Gambia. It was based on a mixed-methods design including a cross-sectional household survey with a sample of 181 female adolescents, focus group discussions with 16 male and female parents, and eight key informant interviews with community-based decision makers. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic content analysis, while survey data were analyzed using Stata. Results: The study finds that ethnicity and the fear that girls may engage in premarital sex are two important factors associated with early marriage in rural Gambia. In addition, lack of meaningful alternatives to marriage including work opportunities in rural areas may also limit the options and resources available to girls, resulting in early wedlock. Conclusions: These findings suggest that in order to decrease early marriages in rural Gambia, future efforts should focus on understanding and addressing the role of ethnicity in determining marriage patterns and allaying the fear around premarital sex.The findings also suggest a need to provide girls with employment-oriented education including vocational skills which may result into more empowerment and a delay in marriage.
Adolescent pregnancy is a complex issue with social, economic, and health implications. Factors such as poor access to health care and education, gender inequality, and limited access to comprehensive sexual education contribute to the issue. This study examined the girl child education and adolescent pregnancy in Nigeria and the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) advocacy concerning education and adolescent pregnancy. Adopting the Social Learning Theory, the study examined the persistence of adolescent pregnancy in Nigeria, despite UNFPA advocacy efforts. The qualitative research approach was adopted to generate the secondary data, which were obtained from published articles and online sources. The MAXQDA thematic analysis was used to generate data analysis. The study found that a comprehensive strategy is needed to prevent adolescent pregnancy, including advancing gender equality and increasing access to contraception. The study also found that early marriage and cultural misconception limits the girl child’s education. The study recommends that collaborations between UNFPA, the Association for Reproductive and Family Health, and other organisations are needed to strengthen comprehensive sexual education, advocate for gender equality, improve access to reproductive health services, and support economic empowerment.
The study assesses the effectiveness of multi-sectoral strategies aimed at ending child marriage in Kogi State, Nigeria. Utilizing both primary and secondary data, the study synthesized government policy frameworks, international reports, academic literature, and qualitative data from key stakeholders, including adolescent girls, community leaders, educators, and policymakers. Data collection involved purposive sampling, with in-depth interviews and focus group discussions analyzed thematically using NVivo 8.0. Findings reveal that several initiatives have yielded positive outcomes. Health-focused programmes such as the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week (MNCHW) expanded access to essential services in underserved communities, indirectly addressing child marriage drivers. Capacity-building initiatives, free medical testing, and life skills education, particularly under the Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID), enhanced women’s health literacy and autonomy. Educational interventions like the Girl-Child Education Support Programme (GCESP) improved school enrollment through scholarships, delaying early marriage among beneficiaries. Legal reforms such as the enactment of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and the establishment of specialized courts have strengthened the legal framework against child marriage, while community-based awareness campaigns have improved rights literacy and social support for girls’ education. Cultural practices, such as the Ovia-Osese Festival, were also observed to reinforce norms that discourage early marriage, though concerns around human rights compliance were noted. Despite progress, challenges persist, including sustainability of programmes, funding limitations, inadequate infrastructure, cultural resistance, and uneven enforcement of laws in rural areas. The study underscores the need for sustained, context-sensitive, and scalable interventions that address the socio-cultural and economic root causes of child marriage. Strengthening cross-sector collaboration and ensuring community ownership are essential to achieving long-term impact. Keywords: Child Marriage, Kogi State, Intervention, Impact, Challenges
Uguru Wisdom Ibor, Agnes Enang Ubana, Joyce A. M. Ejukonemu
The aim of the study is to investigate: i) impact of teenage pregnancy on the girl child attending government secondary schools ii) the level of academic accomplishment of the pregnant teenagers at the public secondary schools. The research design for this study was a descriptive survey. The study population made up of 800 teen mothers. A sample of 200 teen mothers in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria, who had dropped out of secondary school as a result of teen pregnancies, was chosen through simple random sampling. The instrument utilized to collect the data was questionnaire which was administered to the participants, validated by three experts and its reliability was tested using Cronbach alpha which yielded 0.68. The participants were also interviewed. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentages. The results showed that young women who became pregnant while in school face a variety of difficulties, including early marriage, rejection by the family, disassociation from former classmates, social isolation, frequent absences following pregnancies, poor academic performance, and reasons for dropping out of school. The findings revealed that teen pregnancies affect the relationship of the girl child, family and peer group and also have an impact on young girls' academic performance in public secondary schools. We deduced from the literature review that adolescent pregnancy is a widespread problem that demands attention due to its effects on the education of girls. Some recommendations were also made.
Odiri E. Onoshakpokaiye, Oboawharhe Eloho Anthonia
Child marriage is a perennial problem that is common and peculiar in Northern Nigeria with attendant increase in number of out of school girls. Efforts are made to contain the trend of child marriage as can be gleaned from the enactment of Child’s Right Act which prohibits child marriage. However, Child Right Laws in most states of the North seem to permit child marriage where the child has attained puberty. Out of several options that are been considered as possible solutions to the problem of child marriage, the strategy that seems to have agitated the international community, government and other stakeholders is free and compulsory education of the girl child. This paper adopted doctrinal method of research to examine the practice of Child marriage and how compulsory education impacts practice of child marriage in the North. Thus, the research question was, what is the best way forward for addressing the prevailing culture of marriage with children in Northern Nigeria? This paper has found that some legislation and customs seem to permit child marriage and betrothal despite the acclaimed right of the girl child to free, and compulsory education, and the International legal instruments which do not permit child marriage. More so, the problem of marriage with a child requires a multi- faceted approach rather than the compulsory education approach which seems restrictive. Thus, it has been recommended that the Child Right Laws of the Northern states should be amended to clearly prohibit child marriage in the North, and proscribe customary practices that promote marriage with a child.
In northern Nigeria, there are cultural and religious pressures on girls to marry early. Up to 43% of girls in Nigeria are married before 18, rising as high as 87% in the northwest. The study, using a mixed method approach, examines behaviours of community members towards adolescent girls’ time of marriage with perspectives from adolescent girls, faith leaders, and community members. The study found that the practice of early marriage exists in the areas studied: 35% of survey respondents had one or more daughters married before the age of 18, although most community members believed that a girl should be married when she is “mature”. Only 9.6% of survey respondents noted that they would never marry off an underage daughter. As major stakeholders in multi-component interventions, the study identifies the crucial roles of faith leaders in efforts to reduce the practice of early marriage in northern Nigeria.
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
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.
BACKGROUND: Child marriage is a human rights violation disproportionately affecting girls in lower- and middle-income countries and has serious public health implications. In Ghana, one in five girls marry before their 18th birthday and one in 20 girls is married before her 15th birthday. This paper uses a unique dataset from Northern Ghana to examine the association between child marriage and adverse outcomes for women among a uniquely vulnerable population. METHODS: Baseline data from on ongoing impact evaluation of a government-run cash transfer programme was used. The sample consisted of 1349 ever-married women aged 20-29 years from 2497 households in the Northern and Upper East regions of Ghana. We estimated a series of ordinary least squares (OLS) and logistic regression models to examine associations of child marriage with health, fertility, contraception, child mortality, social support, stress and agency outcomes among women, controlling for individual characteristics and household-level factors. RESULTS: Child marriage in this sample was associated with increased odds of poorer health, as measured by difficulties in daily activities (OR = 2.08; CI 1.28-3.38 among women 20-24 years and OR = 1.58; CI 1.19-2.12 among women 20-29 years), increased odds of child mortality among first-born children (OR = 2.03; CI 1.09-3.77 among women 20-24 years) and lower odds of believing that one's life is determined by their own actions (OR = 0.42; CI 0.25-0.72 among women 20-24 years and OR = 0.54; CI 0.39-0.75 among women 20-29 years). Conversely, child marriage was associated with lower levels of reported stress (regression coefficient = - 1.18; CI -1.84--0.51 among women 20-29 years). CONCLUSIONS: Child marriage is common in Northern Ghana and is associated with poor health, increased child mortality, and low agency among women in this sample of extremely poor households. While not much is known about effective measures to combat child marriage in the context of Ghana, programmes that address key drivers of early marriage such as economic insecurity and school enrolment at the secondary level, should be examined with respect to their effectiveness at reducing early marriage. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered in the Registry for International Development Impact Evaluations (RIDIE) on 01 July 2015, with number RIDIE-STUDY-ID- 55942496d53af .
on behalf of the Ghana LEAP 1000 evaluation team, Richard de Groot, Maxwell Yiryele Kuunyem et al.
Objectives: In Senegal, the dominant social norm upholds virginity before marriage and edifies abstinence for adolescents as a cardinal moral value. Currently, sex outside of marriage remains socially condemned. The onset of sex for adolescent girls born with HIV in Senegal brings up several challenges. In Dakar, initiatives, especially through digital applications, are being developed to support these young people. These programs are much rarer in rural settings. A study conducted in 2021 explored how adolescent girls born with HIV who live outside of Dakar experience sexuality, what socio-health constraints they face, and what support they receive from the healthcare system. Method: An anthropological study titled 'Treatment Failure among Children and Adolescents Living with HIV in Senegal, Outside Dakar' (ETEA-VIH, ANRS 12421) was conducted in 2021 in 14 regional hospitals and health centers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 87 HIV-positive children and adolescents, 95 parents/guardians, and 47 health care workers. Adolescent girls' onset of sexuality was specifically analyzed for 40 adolescent girls age 12-19 years old. Results: Generally, parents feign oblivion about their children's sexual lives. Mothers dread a pregnancy out of marriage because they are responsible for overseeing sex education and would be 'blamed' for the transgression. The occurrence of an unintended pregnancy can lead to exclusion from the family and a risk of transmitting HIV to the child due to the lack of medical and social support. HIV remains a stigmatizing disease that families keep secret. The risk of disclosure is a major concern. Despite sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programs, most healthcare workers are reluctant to discuss sexuality or to offer contraception to adolescent girls. Information spaces have been set up in some regional hospitals by associations trained in SRH. They are rarer in health centers. Accessibility to digital applications and discussion forums is limited due to the lack of smartphones and Internet access. Conclusion: In rural settings, HIV-positive adolescent girls are confronted with the silence that surrounds sexuality and HIV. An individualized approach and confidential access to contraception should be prioritized to support them with assistance from PLHIV associations.
Gabrièle Laborde-Balen, Maimouna Diop, Khoudia Sow et al.
