Marriage
is the formal union of a man and a woman, typically recognised by law by which
they become husband and wife.
is the formal union of a man and a woman, typically recognised by law by which
they become husband and wife.
Child
marriage can be defined as a formal marriage or informal union entered into by
an individual before reaching the age of 18.
marriage can be defined as a formal marriage or informal union entered into by
an individual before reaching the age of 18.
Child
marriage was common in human history. Today child marriage is fairly widespread
in parts of the world especially in Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Latin
America and Oceania etc.
marriage was common in human history. Today child marriage is fairly widespread
in parts of the world especially in Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Latin
America and Oceania etc.
The
incidence rates of child marriage falling in most part of the world. The nation
with the highest observed rates of child marriage in the world below the age of
18 are Niger, Chad, Mali etc.
incidence rates of child marriage falling in most part of the world. The nation
with the highest observed rates of child marriage in the world below the age of
18 are Niger, Chad, Mali etc.
However child marriage is observed for both
boys and girls, the overwhelming majority of those affected by the practise are
girls due to importance placed upon female virginity. It is related to child
betrothal, unmarried and teenage pregnancy.
boys and girls, the overwhelming majority of those affected by the practise are
girls due to importance placed upon female virginity. It is related to child
betrothal, unmarried and teenage pregnancy.
Why Does Child
Marriage Occur?
Marriage Occur?
Poverty
and economic transactions:
and economic transactions:
Poverty:
Poverty is a critical factor contributing to child marriage and a common reason
why parents may encourage a child to marry.
Poverty is a critical factor contributing to child marriage and a common reason
why parents may encourage a child to marry.
Where
poverty is acute, a young girl maybe regarded as an economic burden, her
marriage to a much older, sometimes even elderly.
poverty is acute, a young girl maybe regarded as an economic burden, her
marriage to a much older, sometimes even elderly.
Man
is believed to benefit a child and her family both financially and socially in
communities where child marriage is practised. Marriage is regarded as a
transaction often representing of significant economic activity for a family.
is believed to benefit a child and her family both financially and socially in
communities where child marriage is practised. Marriage is regarded as a
transaction often representing of significant economic activity for a family.
Economic:
A girls’ marriage may also take place as a perceived means of creating
stability. In Africa the, monitory value of bride price or bride wealth is
linked with marriage.
A girls’ marriage may also take place as a perceived means of creating
stability. In Africa the, monitory value of bride price or bride wealth is
linked with marriage.
Notions of morality
and honour:
and honour:
Dominate
notion of morality and honour are important factors encouraging the practise of
child marriage.
notion of morality and honour are important factors encouraging the practise of
child marriage.
These
are influenced greatly by the importance place on maintaining family honour and
a high value placed on a girls’ virginity. It is considered that shame will be
cast on a family if a girl was not virgin when she marries.
are influenced greatly by the importance place on maintaining family honour and
a high value placed on a girls’ virginity. It is considered that shame will be
cast on a family if a girl was not virgin when she marries.
Therefore
in order to ensure that a girls’ virtue remain intact girls maybe married early
in order to ensure their virility. Young girls may also be encouraged to marry
older man, due to the perception that an older husband will be able to act as a
guide against behaviour deemed immoral and inappropriate.
in order to ensure that a girls’ virtue remain intact girls maybe married early
in order to ensure their virility. Young girls may also be encouraged to marry
older man, due to the perception that an older husband will be able to act as a
guide against behaviour deemed immoral and inappropriate.
Consequences of
Child Marriage
Child Marriage
There
are numerous detrimental consequences associated with child marriage such as:
are numerous detrimental consequences associated with child marriage such as:
1.) Physical
2.) Developmental
3.) Psychological and
4.) Social consequences.
Physical:
When a child bride is married, she is likely to be forced into sexual activity
with the husband and at an age where the bride is not physically and sexually
matured this has severe health consequences.
When a child bride is married, she is likely to be forced into sexual activity
with the husband and at an age where the bride is not physically and sexually
matured this has severe health consequences.
Child
brides are likely to become pregnant at an early age and there is a strong
correlation between the age of a mother and maternal mortality. Girls’ ages 10
to 14 are 5times more likely to die in pregnancy or child birth than woman age
20 to 24 and girls age 15 to 19 are twice as likely to die. Young mothers face
higher risk during pregnancies including complications such as bleeding,
fistula, infections, anaemia, eclampsia, which contribute to higher mortality
rates of both mother and child. At a young age, a girl has not developed fully
and her body may strain under the effort of child birth, which can result in
obstructed labour and obstetric fistula.
brides are likely to become pregnant at an early age and there is a strong
correlation between the age of a mother and maternal mortality. Girls’ ages 10
to 14 are 5times more likely to die in pregnancy or child birth than woman age
20 to 24 and girls age 15 to 19 are twice as likely to die. Young mothers face
higher risk during pregnancies including complications such as bleeding,
fistula, infections, anaemia, eclampsia, which contribute to higher mortality
rates of both mother and child. At a young age, a girl has not developed fully
and her body may strain under the effort of child birth, which can result in
obstructed labour and obstetric fistula.
Obstetric
fistula can also be caused by the early sexual relations associated with child
marriage which takes place even before menarche.
fistula can also be caused by the early sexual relations associated with child
marriage which takes place even before menarche.
Good
prenatic care reduces the risk of child birth complications, but in many
instances due to the limited freedom of movement young wives are not able to
negotiate access to health care, they may be unable to access health services
because of distance, fear, expense or the or the need for permission from a
spouses or inlaws these barriers aggravate the risk of maternal complications
and mortality for pregnant adolescent.
prenatic care reduces the risk of child birth complications, but in many
instances due to the limited freedom of movement young wives are not able to
negotiate access to health care, they may be unable to access health services
because of distance, fear, expense or the or the need for permission from a
spouses or inlaws these barriers aggravate the risk of maternal complications
and mortality for pregnant adolescent.
Child
brides may also suffer vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, while early marriage are
sometimes seen by parents as a magnism for protecting their daughter from
HIV/AIDS future husbands may already be infected from previous sexual
encounters, a risks which is particularly acute for girls with older husbands.
brides may also suffer vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, while early marriage are
sometimes seen by parents as a magnism for protecting their daughter from
HIV/AIDS future husbands may already be infected from previous sexual
encounters, a risks which is particularly acute for girls with older husbands.
Communities
who practiced female genital mutilation are also more likely to practice child
marriage and in some female genital mutilation practising communities female
genital mutilation is carried out at puberty and then marriage are arranged
immediately afterwards it is also common in FGM practising communities for a
man to refuse to marry a girl or woman who has not undergone FGM or to demand
that FGM is carried out before marriage.
who practiced female genital mutilation are also more likely to practice child
marriage and in some female genital mutilation practising communities female
genital mutilation is carried out at puberty and then marriage are arranged
immediately afterwards it is also common in FGM practising communities for a
man to refuse to marry a girl or woman who has not undergone FGM or to demand
that FGM is carried out before marriage.
Developmental
Consequences: Child marriage also has
considerable implications for the social development of child brides, in terms
of low level of education, poor health etc. The forum on marriage and girls
explains that where these elements are linked with gender inequalities and
bases for the majority of young girls, this socialization which grooms them to
be mothers and submissive wives, limited their development to only reproductive
roles.
Consequences: Child marriage also has
considerable implications for the social development of child brides, in terms
of low level of education, poor health etc. The forum on marriage and girls
explains that where these elements are linked with gender inequalities and
bases for the majority of young girls, this socialization which grooms them to
be mothers and submissive wives, limited their development to only reproductive
roles.
Early
marriage can also discourage girls’ parents from educating their daughters
because they believe that a normal education will only benefit their future
family inlaws. Lack of education also means that young brides often lack
knowledge about sexual relations, their bodies and reproduction. This denies
the girl the ability to make inform decisions about family planning and her
health.
marriage can also discourage girls’ parents from educating their daughters
because they believe that a normal education will only benefit their future
family inlaws. Lack of education also means that young brides often lack
knowledge about sexual relations, their bodies and reproduction. This denies
the girl the ability to make inform decisions about family planning and her
health.
Psychological and Social
Consequences: It is a huge responsibility
for a young to become a wife and mother and because girls are not educated
prepared for these roles this heavy burden has a serious impact on their
psychological welfare. Women who marry early are more likely to suffer abuse
and violence.
Consequences: It is a huge responsibility
for a young to become a wife and mother and because girls are not educated
prepared for these roles this heavy burden has a serious impact on their
psychological welfare. Women who marry early are more likely to suffer abuse
and violence.
Violence
behaviour can take the form of physical harm, psychological attacks,
threatening behaviour and forced social acts including rape. While abuse is
sometimes perpetrated by the husband’s family as well as husband himself.
behaviour can take the form of physical harm, psychological attacks,
threatening behaviour and forced social acts including rape. While abuse is
sometimes perpetrated by the husband’s family as well as husband himself.
Early
marriage has been linked to wife abandonment and increased level of divorce.
marriage has been linked to wife abandonment and increased level of divorce.
Teenage Pregnancy
Teenage
pregnancy is defined as pregnancy that occurs in women below the age of 20. Its
common that at this stage the girl has not completely dependent upon her
parents thus unable to provide for the unborn child.
pregnancy is defined as pregnancy that occurs in women below the age of 20. Its
common that at this stage the girl has not completely dependent upon her
parents thus unable to provide for the unborn child.
Consequences of
Teenage Pregnancy
Teenage Pregnancy
1.) Teenage birth is associated with lower
annual income for the mother.
annual income for the mother.
2.) Teenage mother are more likely to drop out of school only
one-third of teen mothers obtain a high school diploma.
one-third of teen mothers obtain a high school diploma.
3.) Teenage pregnancies are associated with increase rate of
alcohol abuse and substance abuse, lower educational levels and reduced earning
potentials in teen fathers.
alcohol abuse and substance abuse, lower educational levels and reduced earning
potentials in teen fathers.
