Early Marriage Research Articles

The Irony of Child Protection: A qualitative analysis of social workers and police officers’ challenges in supporting the rights of victims of child marriage

Social workers and the police are key frontline workers providing intervention against the practice of child marriage. However, the challenges they experience have received little attention in the literature on child marriage. This paper seeks to contribute to emerging literature by exploring the challenges frontline workers face when intervening in a child marriage situation in Ghana. The study utilizes semi-structured interviews to collect data from six frontline workers and analyses the data thematically. The study found that frontline workers follow a common practice of prematurely reintegrating rescued victims back into the environment where child marriage is encouraged. This raises awareness of what we called the child protection irony which is inconsistent with the constitution and the child welfare policies in Ghana. As a result, the girls is left alone to battle their way out of child marriage while the perpetrators remain unpunished. The findings suggest a need for collaboration between child protection agencies to ensure that child welfare laws and resource allocations are implemented effectively to safeguard children’s rights.

Early Marriage Brides; Survival Tactics of Young Brides within their In-Laws Families: A Case of Pakistan

One of the many social structures created to regulate and control human life is marriage. It is the accepted social model in which a family is formed by at least two individuals. However, a marriage that does not follow the traditional path or that disregards fundamental human rights standards raises fundamental social difficulties with complex consequences. The present examination explores different causes and results of early marriage in Pakistani society. The aim to acquire or maintain power and control over a personal conflict is characterized by harsh conduct, such as aggressive behavior at home. Aggressive behavior reception and psychological pattern square measure practices utilized by one individual in a relationship to manage the opposite place or other relatives. This research study was conducted in Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan. For data collection, a specific range of people were targeted to get the best results, and then SPSS was used to analyze the data. Mostly, young brides were not in favor of early marriage. They said that in early marriage, they have to face many social, economic, psychological, and physical problems. They said they were not ready to hold this kind of responsibility at a young age.

Marriage practices of Chepang and Tamang communities: Legal consequences and implications post-federalization in Nepal"

Chepang and Tamang ethnics are the backward communities living with substantial farming system. The marriage practice is traditional, elope, love and arrange. The legal age stands 20 years for Nepalese but estimated 40 percent in rural areas ongoing child marriage. This study aims to explore marriage consequences and legal aspects in three consecutive Rural municipalities of Makwanpur district. A descriptive study with cross-sectional analysis was taken for Chepang and Tamang respondents. The study followed the mixed method where KII, FGD and key field notes were taken. The field survey took 3 months (March to July 2023). The age of couple during marriage is recorded as 14 to 15 years. Traditional marriage system following male and female proposals tiding into the marriage approaching by elders of the family. Whereas, love and elope marriage cases are rapidly increasing due to the uses of social networking platforms connecting youth through Android mobiles. The communication of males/ females noticed schools, fairs, social and ritual gatherings before marriage. The Chepang and Tamang customs agreed to accept all types of marriage made through groom/ bride at the end. The legal age of marriage is recorded as 20 years as per the Law and most people are well aware but still no legal cases or complaints raised in the community considering norms and values of the Chepang and Tamang cultures. The study concluded further that marriage at an early age is no doubt a child marriage and law and legitimacy are a strong factor but this is not applied rural-areas as the local customs and norms are prime factors to running the society and the local values and norms are much above than law. Policy advice to decrease the marriage age is advised.

Controversy of Early Marriage Between Religious Doctrine and Customs in Minority Areas in Indonesia

Controversy of Early Marriage Between Religious Doctrine and Customs in Minority Areas in Indonesia

VOLUNTARY CHILDLESS SEBAGAI PILIHAN TAHDID AL-NASL UNTUK MEWUJUDKAN KELUARGA BERENCANA DALAM PERSPEKTIF HILAH

The background of this study is the childfree phenomenon that has re-emerged in the public eye amidst the decline in the ideal age marriage rate and the still high rate of early marriage. This study describes the phenomenon of voluntary childlessness, or the absence of children as an option in the context of tahdid al-Nasl (birth control) to realize family planning, with a hilah perspective approach. The focus of the study is the application of hilah in the case of voluntary childless couples who assume that they have supported the family planning program with their willingness to live without children so that they are able to reduce the birth rate. This study is normative with a literature study approach to collect primary legal materials. The results of this study indicate that voluntary childlessness is included in the hilah ghair syar'iyyah, or cases that are not permitted; the practice of family planning is permitted in Islam, but there are terms and conditions for its implementation and the goals to be achieved.

High-risk fertility behavior and infant mortality in Kenya

Study purpose: To establish the contribution of high-risk fertility behavior on infant mortality in Kenya. Methodology: The study used cross-sectional survey data obtained from the 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey. Descriptive analysis involved frequencies and cross-tabulation. Inferential analysis involved multinomial logistic regression. Results: Young age at first birth of under-20 years was significantly related to neonatal (OR = 1.001; ρ<0.01; CI = 0.347-0.850), post-neonatal (OR = 1.542; ρ<0.01; CI = 0.364-0.809), and infant (OR = 1.043; ρ<0.01; CI = 0.372-0.791) mortalities. Mothers who gave birth under-20 years of age had higher odds of experiencing neonatal mortality (OR = 1.183; ρ<0.05; CI = 0.374-1.733). Births of orders 2 to 3 had lower odds of neonatal (OR = 0.710; ρ<0.05; CI = 0.436-1.157) and infant (OR = 0.802; ρ<0.05; CI = 0.494-1.304) mortalities. Nulliparous women were 0.31 times less likely and 0.45 times more likely, to report neonatal and post-neonatal mortalities, respectively. Conclusion: Analytical findings revealed under-20 years’ age at first birth, under-20 years’ age at motherhood, first order births, and births to nulliparous women to be high-risk fertility behaviors related to infant mortality. Old age at first birth and preceding birth interval were unrelated to infant mortality. Advocacy on the need to delay entry into marriage and sexual debut should be done so as to address the issues of child brides and young age at first birth.

Understanding the Agony of Child Brides from Low Resource Family Settings in Nigeria: Implication for Social Work Engagement

The involvement of under-18s in legal unions has become a topical human rights concern. It appears to be more prevalent among female children from low-resource family settings, manifesting as another shade of gender inequality. The consequences of child marriages are enormous, affecting the psychosocial, physical and health status of victims. This study details the experiences of victims of child marriages, with concerns about females from low-resource family settings in Nigeria. The study employed a qualitative method of data collection utilizing Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) to elicit data from 12 female participants who are currently married and aged below 18 years and four renowned women residing in the community who are conversant with the issue in Enugu, Nigeria. Findings revealed that child marriage still prevails, though with the full consent of some girls, whereas others were lured. The result suggests that child marriage is adopted as a cover-up strategy by parents when dealing with poverty/teenage pregnancy. Other factors exacerbating child marriage were social norms, family size, structure, ignorance, deception, lack of support services and poverty level. Identified consequences of child marriage were health hazards, physical, emotional and financial difficulties. Coping strategies used by victims of child marriage were attending religious gatherings, adopting traditional medication/birth control methods and engaging in petty income-yielding businesses. Assistance for child brides came only from religious groups and good-spirited community members. Social workers’ engagement in the fight towards ending child marriage in Nigeria was not visible owing to poor involvement in child protection services. The study therefore recommends intensified efforts by social workers and the Nigerian government to enforce policies that will protect the girl-child, challenge the social norms and mitigate gender-based discrimination and violence. Government and non-governmental organizations in collaboration with social workers should brace-up efforts to ensure that welfare packages trickle down to child brides and ultimately end child marriage in Nigeria.

Counseling on the Prevention of Early Marriage in Adolescents at Smpn 5 Praya Timur

Child marriage among teenagers has become a serious social issue, particularly in Central Lombok Regency. This phenomenon shows a tendency for teenagers to opt for marriage at a young age rather than continuing their education, which brings negative impacts on health, education, and socio-economic welfare. According to data from BKKBN NTB, in 2015, West Nusa Tenggara had the second-highest rate of child marriage in Indonesia, with a percentage of 5.81%. Despite government regulations aimed at preventing early marriage, their implementation has been less than optimal. SMP Negeri 5 Praya Timur, located in Beleke Lebe Sane Village, East Praya District, Central Lombok Regency, faces this issue directly, with many students deciding to leave school to marry at an early age. A lack of understanding regarding the negative impacts of early marriage, particularly related to reproductive health and education, is one of the primary causes of this phenomenon. The community service activity conducted at SMP Negeri 5 Praya Timur aimed to provide comprehensive counseling to students about the dangers of early marriage and the importance of continuing education to higher levels. The method used was Participatory Action Research (PAR), which involved active participation of students in understanding issues related to early marriage. This counseling was expected to raise student awareness about the risks of early marriage and motivate them to pursue further education. The results of this activity showed an increase in students' understanding of the negative impacts of early marriage and the importance of education as a path to a better future.

SOSIAOLISASI DAMPAK PERNIKAHAN DINI DI MA DARUSSHOLIHIN NW DARMAJI

Community service has been carried out by conducting socialization of the impact of early marriage at Madrasah Aliyah Darusholihin NW Darmaji. Our hope is how teenagers become aware and do not easily get married which has a negative impact on themselves and their environment, so that they know the consequences of early marriage and they are given knowledge about positive activities to fill their free time besides studying at school. The success of this activity can be seen from the increase in participants' knowledge through pre-tests and post-tests. So it can be concluded that there is a significant difference in the knowledge of participants in the socialization activity before and after being given material in the socialization activity. There is an understanding from students about early marriage. There is an understanding and knowing the impacts of early marriage. There is an understanding of the negative impacts of early marriage.

Empowerment Women of Mekarmanik Village to Prevent Early through Balai Prima Women's School in 2020-2023

This research was motivated by the rampant phenomenon of early marriage in Indonesia, which has become a complex and controversial social issue. Early marriage was always associated with beliefs and traditions in a region with diverse cultures and religions. This study analyzes efforts to prevent early marriage in Mekarmanik Village, Cimenyan District, Bandung Regency through women's empowerment. The program used is the Balai Prima girls’ school, which provides non-formal education for adolescent girls aged 13-18 years. This study uses a qualitative descriptive method, focusing on data collection and analysis, to shed light on the phenomenon of early marriage in local social, cultural, and economic contexts. The results show that non-formal education and women's empowerment can increase awareness about women's rights and the risks of early marriage, as well as provide practical skills that aid decision-making. The implementation of this program is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in terms of gender equality and improving the quality of education. Therefore, it is important to address early marriage, which involves education, empowerment, and social change.

The Phenomenon of Early Marriage in the Seginim Sub-District South Bengkulu District

Abstract. Early marriage is a marriage event conducted by a man and a woman under the minimum age of marriage. As happened in Seginim Subdistrict, South Bengkulu Regency, the number of early marriages that occur is relatively high. This research uses a qualitative approach, described descriptively. The techniques used to collect data are non-participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation studies. The data analysis technique used in this research is the Miles and Huberman data analysis model, which includes data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The theory used to analyze the results of this study is Max Weber's social action theory. This study found several findings, namely that early marriage was caused by marriage by accident and not wanting to go to school, lack of knowledge about marriage from both adolescents and parents of adolescents who entered into early marriage, especially regarding the provisions of the minimum age of marriage and the attitude of parents of adolescents who entered into early marriage who were not too strict with their children, especially for their children who only married because they were tired of school. So, it can be concluded that the low knowledge of adolescents regarding the essence and provisions of the minimum age of marriage. Keywords: Early marriage, Phenomena, Seginim, South Bengkulu, Teenagers. Abstrak. Perkawinan dini adalah peristiwa perkawinan yang dilakukan oleh seorang pria dan wanita yang masih di bawah usia perkawinan minimal. Seperti yang terjadi di Kecamatan Seginim, Kabupaten Bengkulu Selatan, jumlah perkawinan dini yang terjadi relatif tinggi. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif yang dijelaskan secara deskriptif. Teknik yang digunakan untuk mengumpulkan data adalah observasi non-partisipan, wawancara semi-struktural, dan studi dokumentasi. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah model analisis data Miles dan Huberman, yang meliputi pengumpulan data, reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Teori yang digunakan untuk menganalisis hasil penelitian ini adalah teori tindakan sosial Max Weber. Penelitian ini menemukan beberapa temuan, yaitu bahwa perkawinan dini disebabkan oleh perkawinan yang terjadi secara tidak sengaja dan tidak ingin melanjutkan sekolah, kurangnya pengetahuan tentang perkawinan baik dari remaja maupun orang tua remaja yang melakukan perkawinan dini, khususnya terkait ketentuan usia perkawinan minimal dan sikap orang tua remaja yang melakukan perkawinan dini yang tidak terlalu tegas terhadap anak-anak mereka, terutama untuk anak-anak mereka yang hanya menikah karena merasa lelah dengan sekolah. Oleh karena itu, dapat disimpulkan bahwa rendahnya pengetahuan remaja mengenai esensi dan ketentuan usia perkawinan minimal. Kata Kunci: Perkawinan dini, Fenomena, Seginim, Bengkulu Selatan, Remaja.

PERNIKAHAN ANAK USIA DINI DI MEDIA SOSIAL: MUI DALAM SOROTAN PUBLIK (STUDI KASUS KABUPATEN WAJO)

This study examines the phenomenon of child marriage in Indonesia, specifically in Wajo Regency, South Sulawesi. The findings reveal that the practice of child marriage remains a serious problem that requires urgent attention from various stakeholders. Collaboration between religious leaders (ulama) and government officials (umara) is key in reducing the prevalence of child marriage. Through various education programs, socialization, and law enforcement, it is hoped that public awareness of the negative impacts of child marriage can be increased. The study found that child marriage not only violates children's rights but also contradicts the objectives of Islamic law. Although marriage aims to establish a harmonious family, early marriage can hinder the achievement of this goal. Children who marry at a young age lack the physical, mental, and emotional maturity required for married life. This research highlights the importance of the roles of government, religious institutions, and the community in preventing and addressing child marriage. Efforts that need to be undertaken include improving the quality of education, providing reproductive health services for adolescents, and strengthening law enforcement against perpetrators of child marriage. It is hoped that these efforts will lead to a decrease in the number of child marriages in Indonesia, particularly in Wajo Regency

Factors associated with early marriage

Early marriage among adolescents is a significant social issue that is often linked to unintended pregnancies resulting from premarital sexual activity. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the factors associated with early marriage among teenagers in Kelurahan Sari Rejo, Medan Polonia, Indonesia, from October 2023 to May 2024. A total of 65 early married adolescents aged 15-18 years were included in this study. The findings revealed that parental education, socioeconomic status, and parenting style were not significantly associated with early marriage. However, information source and peer influence were significant predictors. Adolescents who engaged in unhealthy peer relationships were 2.20 times more likely to marry early than those with healthy peer associations. These results underscore the importance of peer influence and the need for comprehensive sex education programs to address early marriages among teenagers.

Reducing Stunting in South Lampung Regency through Preventing Early Marriage: A Critical Analysis

South Lampung Regency is recognized as one of the 100 priority districts/cities for addressing child stunting, as designated by the Poverty Reduction Acceleration Team. Efforts to prevent and reduce stunting vary across regions, with the South Lampung Regional Government implementing its own strategies. However, the stunting rate in South Lampung Regency has not shown a significant decline to date. This study aims to analyze policies aimed at reducing stunting rates in South Lampung Regency, with a particular focus on the prevention of early marriage. The research is situated within the framework of public legal policy, specifically addressing the reduction of stunting through measures to prevent early marriage in the region. To this end, a policy-oriented approach was adopted. Findings reveal that early marriage is a contributing factor to growth and developmental disorders in children, manifesting as stunting indicated by height or length measurements below standard norms. The correlation between stunting prevalence and the number of marriage dispensations granted in South Lampung Regency underscores this relationship. The South Lampung Regional Government’s efforts to combat stunting are encapsulated in the South Lampung Regent Regulation Number 15 of 2023, which focuses on accelerating stunting reduction. This policy highlights the critical need to address early marriage as a key strategy in mitigating stunting and ensuring healthier developmental outcomes for children in the region.

Harmonisasi Lembaga Hukum Nasional dan Adat dalam Mengatasi Perkawinan Bawah Umur di Kabupaten Lingga

Marriage is everyone's right. However, the phenomenon that occurs is the practice of underage marriage, this also occurs in the indigenous community of the Orang Laut tribe in Lingga Regency. The aim of this research is to analyze the regulation of national law and customary law in dealing with underage marriage in the Orang Laut tribal community and to find a concept of legal harmonization that can resolve the practice of underage marriage. The research method used is empirical juridical. The type of data sourced from primary data is through observation and interviews as well as primary data. The basic theories used are the Theory of Legal Work and the Theory of Development Law. The results of the research state that there is a regulatory inconsistency between marriage law and child protection law. The marriage law allows for underage marriages by applying for dispensation, while Article 26 of the child protection law strictly stipulates that parents are obliged to prevent child marriages from occurring. And there is a culture of "reciprocation" which is the basis for the Sea People tribe to perpetuate the practice of underage marriage. In fact, marriages are only carried out through traditional ceremonies and according to their respective religions without applying for dispensation to the court. This means that the marriage carried out is only valid according to custom and religion and is not legally valid. Therefore, it is necessary to harmonize the law with an institutional approach in overcoming the phenomenon of underage marriage in the indigenous people of the Orang Laut tribe, Lingga Regency.

Readiness For Behavioral Change to Prevent Child Marriage Based on Individual Characteristics and Adolescent Antecedent Factors

Child marriage cases place Indonesia in the seventh highest ranking in the world and are ranked second in ASEAN. Child marriage can have negative impacts both mentally and physically. Women's reproductive organs that are not ready to accept pregnancy make early marriage disrupt the reproductive health system so that it can cause various complications, especially in women. This research aims to analyze the readiness for behavioural changes in preventing child marriage based on individual characteristics and adolescent antecedents. This type of research is quantitative descriptive research with a Cross-sectional study approach. This study involved 160 teenagers aged <19 years. Individual characteristic variables, namely gender, are related to readiness for behavioural changes in preventing child marriage. Antecedent variables, namely Reproductive Health Knowledge, Parental Support and Motivation, are related to preparedness for behavioural changes in preventing child marriage. The readiness of teenagers to be able to make behavioural changes in preventing child marriage is related to individual characteristics and adolescent antecedents.

Barriers and resilience: The impact of early marriage on girls’ education in Balochistan

Early child marriage is still prevalent in many parts of the world today, especially in areas like Balochistan, where this paper found cultural and socioeconomic factors play an influential role in early marriage. The purpose of this qualitative research is to examine the effect of early marriage on the education of young girls in Balochistan. Guided by the intersectionality framework and gender role theory, this research explores the educational disruption and psychosocial implications, as well as the community and family pressures undergone by these girls, with 10 participants interviewed. The evidence presented shows that regardless of the education achieved prior to marriage, girls drop out of school at the moment they get married and, depending on the custom, continue their education either sparingly or not at all, as their responsibilities shift to housekeeping and child raising. On self-perceived psychosocial impact, participants mentioned isolation, loss of self-esteem, and increased psychological stress as some of the major effects. The challenges were, however, compounded by social and cultural dictating that education for married girls was unnecessary as they were already expected to be wives and future mothers; in-laws also added to this by rejecting the girl’s education. Still, in these circumstances, the participants’ spirit and desire for change remained high; most of them wanted to go back to school if only they had a chance. Such findings underscore the importance of developing the appropriate programs and services that would facilitate the removal of barriers educationally and psychologically facing young married girls. This study has established the need to educate married girls and supply all the necessary encouragement they need to combat the difficulties that early marriage brings.

Reading Center as Community Activity Hubs: An Analysis of Management Effectiveness and Implications for Community Development

Aim: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of managing the Ransel Buku community library The research was conducted at Ransel Buku in the lower Petuk Katimpun Village, located along the Rungan River. Method: The researchers employed a qualitative approach with data collection methods including interviews, observations, and document studies. Data analysis utilized the Miles and Huberman technique, which involves data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The validity of the data was ensured through source and technique triangulation. Result and Discussions: The findings indicate that the situational leadership demonstrated by the management is highly adaptive to various conditions. The learning programs include activities such as basic literacy and numeracy (calistung), dancing, English language instruction, as well as counseling and training. The partnership programs reveal collaborations with various institutions. In terms of infrastructure, the facilities and equipment are adequate. Regarding educators, the teaching staff primarily consist of volunteers, while educational roles can still be managed by the management or permanent volunteers. The output indicates the elimination of early marriages among children and their active involvement in activities outside Ransel Buku. The achievement of objectives shows that the primary goal of Ransel Buku to prevent early marriage-has been successfully attained. Additional indicators include community involvement as learners and external support for activities at Ransel Buku, as well as the benefits and satisfaction of service users. Conclusion: In conclusion, the management of Ransel Buku can be considered effective, despite certain shortcomings, such as the absence of professional educators and a formal curriculum.

THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD FROM AN ADULT PERSPECTIVE (A Case Study on Child Marriage Dispensation Cases at the Sukadana Religious Court)

This study examines how the child's best interests principle is applied in child marriage dispensation cases at the Sukadana Religious Court, emphasizing the contrasting viewpoints of applicants (parents or guardians) and judges. This topic is significant due to the high prevalence of child marriages at the Sukadana Religious Court, which frequently leads to various adverse effects on children's development. This research employs a qualitative approach combining normative and empirical methods, utilizing a case study framework. It includes an analysis of decisions from the Sukadana Religious Court, in-depth interviews with judges, and a review of case applicants. The results reveal that applicants and judges have yet to apply the child's best interests principle fully. Second, the applicants tend to focus on quick solutions to social, moral, or cultural pressures, such as out-of-wedlock pregnancies, premarital sexual relations, or concerns about family shame. Third, judges adopt a normative approach by assessing the child and their partner's physical, psychological, and financial readiness. However, they often prioritize solutions to the urgent situations presented by the applicants. The study concludes that strengthening the implementation of the child's best interests requires stricter regulations in decision-making, offering pre-marriage education and awareness programs on children's rights, and improving judges' competencies. This study recommends collaboration between the courts, educational institutions, and community organizations to strengthen public understanding of the child's best interests as the primary principle in child protection.

A study on the social status of indigenous women in Rangpur, Bangladesh

Our society has not been able to break free from the subcontinent’s conservative patriarchy. There is a tendency to oppress women in society. For indigenous women, the situation is worse considering ethnicity, gender, religion, identity, and class. However, indigenous women in Bangladesh face numerous crises due to existing political, economic, and cultural barriers and inequalities. This study explored indigenous women’s social status in Bangladesh’s Rangpur region. This research followed the qualitative method to gather data in the field through FGD (Focus Group Discussions) and KID (Key Informant Interviews). The study’s findings show that lack of education, child marriage, prejudice, occupational oppression, insecurity, male superiority, the culture of forcing their decisions on women, and a lack of property rights are the most significant barriers to indigenous women’s growth in the Rangpur region. Furthermore, owing to the lack of adequate access to electricity, the internet, newspapers, and television in this region, they are deprived of the free flow of the media. As a result, women are unaware of various matters, such as government-allocated facilities, budget allocation, initiatives, work plans, and policies, making their challenges more visible. In the face of such multi-faceted problems in indigenous communities, the services and benefits of the government of Bangladesh, BRAC, Grameen Bank, CCDB, and World Vision are inadequate or absent in some areas; several NGOs, such as RDRS and Caritas, are just beginning. On the other hand, NGOs are more interested in microcredit practices than in developmental activities. The findings further show that the thinking and lifestyle of indigenous women of Rangpur region are improving through modernization. Many women from indigenous communities are now working as physicians, police officers, and teachers, while many are studying at colleges and universities.