Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Maryse C. Kok, Tasneem Kakal, Abeje Berhanu Kassegne, Irwan M. Hidayana, Alister Munthali, J. Anitha Menon, Paulo Pires, Tabither Gitau, Anke van der Kwaak
Summary: Child marriage is driven by a lack of education, teenage pregnancy, economic constraints, and social acceptance in specific contexts. It is seen as an acceptable and possible practice due to intersecting factors including poverty, social norms, and girls' individual choices.
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Ruchira Tabassum Naved, Sadhvi Kalra, Aloka Talukder, Anne Laterra, Tanha Tabassum Nunna, Kausar Parvin, Mahfuz Al Mamun
Summary: Despite international efforts to increase education and economic opportunities for girls, child marriage persists in communities in northern Bangladesh due to social norms that restrict girls' mobility and decision-making in marriage. Pressure for early marriage is imposed on girls and families perceived to violate these norms, highlighting the need to address underlying social norms to achieve and sustain reductions in child marriage.
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Holly B. Shakya, Sneha Challa, Abdoul Moumouni Nouhou, Ricardo Vera-Monroy, Nicole Carter, Jay Silverman
Summary: The study identified that married adolescent girls who were nulliparous were more likely to have no close relationships, while those in the intervention group had the most. Alters of treatment participants were more likely to have used family planning, and respondents were more likely to also use family planning when their sisters or in-laws did.
GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Andrea J. Melnikas, Nancy Mulauzi, James Mkandawire, Sajeda Amin
Summary: Child marriage in Malawi is a significant issue, with a high percentage of women marrying before the age of 18. Despite laws prohibiting underage marriage, communities in Malawi have developed the practice of marriage withdrawal as a way to enforce the law. However, this practice may lead to unintended consequences such as limited education and opportunities for the withdrawn girls.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrea J. Melnikas, Grace Saul, Michelle Chau, Neelanajana Pandey, Mouhamadou Gueye, James Mkandawire, Aissa Diarra, Sajeda Amin
Summary: The More Than Brides Alliance implemented a successful intervention in India, reducing the proportion of married girls aged 12-19. However, the intervention did not show impact on delaying marriage in Malawi, Mali, and Niger. The drivers of child marriage vary across countries and require context-specific intervention approaches.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jewel Gausman, Fauzia Akhter Huda, Areej Othman, Maysoon Al Atoom, Abeer Shaheen, Iqbal Hamad, Maysoon Dabobe, Hassan Rushekh Mahmood, Rifah Ibnat, Ana Langer
Summary: This study examines how the social and normative environment influences attitudes and practices related to girl child marriage in two different humanitarian settings. Focus group discussions were conducted with Syrian refugees in Jordan and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The findings reveal similar themes in both settings, including a desire to maintain tradition during displacement, the reinforcement of norms across generations, and the impact of social influences on girls' agency. Participants also discussed the resistance to change, exacerbated by conflict and displacement, but suggested that social influence could be an effective way to challenge existing norms that sustain the practice of girl child marriage.
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Jeffrey D. Edmeades, Kerry L. D. MacQuarrie, Kiran Acharya
Summary: This study explores the factors associated with child, early, and forced marriage (CEFM) for boys, highlighting the economic, social, and demographic drivers. The findings suggest that economic factors related to readiness for marriage, as well as social norms, play a significant role in CEFM for boys.
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Gloria Likupe, Jesman Chintsanya, Monica Magadi, Alister Munthali, Medison Makwemba
Summary: A qualitative study in southern districts of Malawi revealed that teachers face various barriers in delivering sexual and reproductive health education in primary schools, including overemphasis on abstinence, lack of conducive learning environment, and inadequate support from parents. There is a need for policymakers and curriculum developers/implementers to create an approach that involves all stakeholders and provides comprehensive sexuality education for young people.
SEX EDUCATION-SEXUALITY SOCIETY AND LEARNING
(2021)
Article
Economics
Jing You, Xuejie Yi, Meng Chen
Summary: The population in urban China is experiencing a trend of rising age at first marriage and declining marriage rates, particularly among college-educated professional women aged 27 or above. Traditional social norms, including patriarchy, still play a significant role in influencing women's likelihood of getting married. Higher education and career advancement tend to reduce the probability of marriage formation for women, with factors such as postgraduate degrees further oppressing this likelihood.
CHINA ECONOMIC REVIEW
(2021)
Article
Economics
Vinci Chow, Eva Vivalt
Summary: Interventions in Ethiopia aimed at eliminating child marriage by facilitating community discussion and providing economic incentives have shown some success in reducing marriage rates among girls aged 8-17 and increasing women's decision-making power within households. However, there are also potential negative effects, such as increased polarization of beliefs about child marriage.
JOURNAL OF AFRICAN ECONOMIES
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Erica Soler-Hampejsek, Beth Kangwana, Karen Austrian, Sajeda Amin, Stephanie R. Psaki
Summary: The study found high prevalence of child marriage and gender gaps in rural Malawi, with young married women facing challenges in participating in paid work. Literacy and numeracy skills were found to have different effects on work participation for different genders.
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Diana Pacheco-Montoya, Erin Murphy-Graham, Enrique Eduardo Valencia Lopez, Alison K. Cohen
Summary: This study investigates the link between marianismo, girls' mobility and sexuality, and child marriage among adolescent girls in rural areas of Honduras. Findings suggest that traditional gender norms play a role in early marriage decisions, and girls experience control over their mobility and sexuality due to these rigid norms. Educational initiatives challenging sexist gender norms and promoting understanding of attraction and intimacy during adolescence are crucial in preventing child marriage.
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Christine M. Curley, Blair T. Johnson
Summary: People in Western cultures are living longer, but research on the sexual possibilities of older adults has been lacking. Social constraints around aging and sexuality play a significant role in inhibiting sexual activity in older adults. Changing social norms is crucial for achieving sexual well-being in older age. A new sexual revolution that promotes the admiration and desirability of sexuality and aging is needed.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Priya Nanda, Priya Das, Nitin Datta
Summary: Girls' education is crucial in delaying early marriage, but its benefits are often seen within the context of marriageability. The current gender restrictions and social hierarchies limit girls' ability to explore new freedoms and opportunities through education.
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Vera Sagalova, Simeon Nanama, Noel Marie Zagre, Sebastian Vollmer
Summary: The study found that early marriage and childbearing in West and Central African countries have negative impacts on women's economic, social, and fertility outcomes, leading to higher likelihood of poverty, lower education attainment, and more children. Therefore, it is crucial to prevent adolescent marriage and pregnancy in general, and focus specifically on girls below the age of 15 to delay such negative demographic life events.
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL HEALTH
(2021)