Early Marriage Consequences in the Most Deprived Areas in Menoufia Governorate-Egypt: A Community-Based Survey

Abstract

Background: Early marriage is a violation of the basic human rights and is considered a public health problem. It has a profound range of physical, intellectual, psychological and social consequences on the teenager girls and their future children. Objectives: The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of early marriage and the associated social and health hazard. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1080 married women in the most deprived areas in Menoufia Governorate. All women were interviewed personally using a structured valid reliable Arabic questionnaire. It assessed the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants and their husbands, the socioeconomic state, social and health hazards of early marriage. Results: About 48% of women were married before the age of 18 years. The early marriage was significantly higher among illiterate women (59.9%), those who were housewives (99.1%), and married to illiterate husbands (48%). The main social hazards among the early married group were the conflicts with the husband’s family and isolation of women from her family. While anemia and recurrent chest problems were the main health hazards among their first child. Conclusion: Early marriage has a wide prevalence in the selected areas. It was more prevalent among low-educated women, housewives, and married to low-educated husbands. It is continued to cause different social and health consequences for women and their children. Early marriage is a prevailing problem that needs a plan of action to be implemented with the support of the policymakers.