Perception of Causes and Consequences of Early Marriage: The Case of Gewane District, Afar Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

A study was conducted o investigate the perception of causes and consequences of early marriage at Gewane district, Afar regional state, Ethiopia. Cross sectional research design was applied for this specific study. Household survey, Key Informant Interviews and Focus Group Discussion was used to gather data. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20 by using binary logistic model and descriptive statistics. The study participant thought socio-cultural and economic motives as the major reasons for the practices of early marriage in the study area. Specifically, logistic regression analysis revealed respondents’ family size, household monthly income and husbands having more than one wife as the significant factors determining early marriage. The study also indicates that unwanted pregnancy (32%), abortion (29.1%) and death (21.2%) were the major health related consequences and termination of education (28.1%), martial instability (25.6%) and domestic violence (17.7%) were the major socio- cultural consequences of early marriage in the study area. The study concludes that problems associated with early marriage are pertinent issue of women in the study area, as the practice that is supported by social norms and customs goes against their right. To overcome such a problem, awareness creation of the effect of early marriage should be promoted by family counselors, religious leaders, policy makers’ social workers and other helping professionals to fight against such harmful traditional practices.

Keywords: Early marriage, Consequences, Socio-economic motives, Socio cultural reason, Discrimination, Perception, Traditional practices.

DOI: 10.7176/DCS/9-10-03

Publication date:October 31^st 2019