Abstract
BackgroundEarly marriage is not uncommon in Ethiopia, particularly for adolescent girls in rural settings. Social norms are among the factors believed to perpetuate early marriage practices. This qualitative study explores social norms surrounding adolescent girls’ marriage practices in West Hararghe, Ethiopia.MethodsThis study used the qualitative inquiry method to explore social norms in rural Ethiopia. Focus group discussions were conducted with purposively sampled married and unmarried adolescent girls, adolescent boys, and parents. A total of 158 individuals participated in the study, comprising 95 adolescents and 63 parents. Data were collected using locally developed vignettes. A thematic framework analysis approach using the Social Norms Analysis Plot (SNAP) was employed to diagnose and understand social norms.ResultsAdolescent girls’ marriage was found to be mainly influenced by their peers who conform to prevailing social norms. Marrying one’s first suitor was considered an opportunity not to be missed and a symbol of good luck. Relatives, neighbors, and marriage brokers facilitate adolescent girls’ marriage in accordance with the local social norms. Girls usually accept the first marriage proposal regardless of their age, and they are highly expected to do so by their peers, parents, and influential others. Exceptions from the early marriage social norm include adolescent girls determined to continue their education and those having supportive teachers.ConclusionsIn this study context, social norms strongly encourage early marriage and are mainly perpetuated by peers of adolescent girls and influential adults. A strong determination to continue education on the part of girls, strong school performance, and supportive schoolteachers are important conditions for circumventing social norms on early marriage. As social norms evolve slowly, we recommend periodical assessment in order to develop locally appropriate interventions against early marriage.
Highlights
Social norms are among the factors believed to perpetuate early marriage practices
Adolescent girls’ marriage was found to be mainly influenced by their peers who conform to prevailing social norms
Social norms, according to Cristina Bicchieri, are described as unwritten rules of behaviour that individuals choose to conform to on the condition that they believe that most people in their reference group conform to them and that most people in their reference group expect they ought to conform, so their preferences are largely dependent on their perceptions of others’ deeds and expectations, which is referred as conditional preferences [8]
Summary
One out of nine girls is married before 15 years of age [1]. Ethiopia is among the top five countries where early marriage is widely practiced [2]. Many factors influence early marriage in low-income settings, social norms enforce behaviour/practice more than any other social construct [6, 7]. Reference groups are individuals/groups that the index person/group (the person/ group who is studied regarding the specific social norm) has high regard for and whose thoughts and judgments matter most [9]. Marriage is not uncommon in Ethiopia, for adolescent girls in rural settings. Social norms are among the factors believed to perpetuate early marriage practices. This qualitative study explores social norms surrounding adolescent girls’ marriage practices in West Hararghe, Ethiopia
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