Page 49 - GHES-2-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Health consequences of child marriage among rural women

with a particular focus on eradicating child marriage advocating for the well-being of vulnerable populations.
(United Nations, 2015). This objective is consistent with Child marriage, with its profound and lasting impact
the principles of the Child Rights Act of 2003 in Nigeria, on women’s health, necessitates nuanced exploration to
which concerning child protection, affirms the entitlement inform evidence-based interventions and policies. While
of every child to live, grow, develop, and participate existing research has highlighted the broader implications
optimally in a manner congruent with human dignity of early marriage, a focused examination of the health
and safeguarding. Despite these efforts to eradicate child outcomes experienced by rural women is essential due
marriage, available statistics revealed that 30.3% of girls in to the unique sociocultural context of the country (Lebni
Nigeria are married before their 18 birthday and 12.3% et al., 2023; Hotchkiss et al., 2016).
th
are married before the age of 15. Moreover, child marriage Maternal mortality rates are disproportionately high
is particularly common among Nigeria’s poorest rural among women married during adolescence (Chandra-
households (World Bank, 2017). Similarly, Madhumita Mouli et al., 2018). Several studies have demonstrated a
(2022) reported that the proportion of women who
married before the age of 18 years in Nigeria’s rural areas direct correlation between early marriage and increased
maternal mortality, highlighting the urgent need for
is more than double that in urban regions. In addition, targeted interventions to address this pressing concern
another study reveals a higher percentage of girls in (Ahmed et al., 2019; Raj et al., 2014; Kohno et al., 2020;
Nigeria married before their 18 birthday, accounting for
th
44% (Save the Children International, 2021). These figures Marshall, 1996). Regarding prenatal care, research
imply a continuous increase in child marriage attributed indicates that child brides often face significant barriers
to poverty, ignorance, and illiteracy prevailing in Nigeria’s to accessing adequate health-care services during
rural communities. pregnancy (Santhya et al., 2019; Modak, 2019). Factors
such as limited autonomy, socio-economic challenges,
Child marriage contradicts Sustainable Development and restricted mobility contribute to reduced utilization
Goal number 5, as it infringes upon children’s human rights, of prenatal care services among this demographic (Nour,
restricts their choices and opportunities, and exposes them 2009; Kidman, 2016). Moreover, child marriage heightens
to the risks of violence, exploitation, and abuse (UNICEF, the vulnerability of young girls to infectious diseases, with
2021). In Enugu State, the Enugu traditional rulers’ council studies illustrating the association between early marriage
has outlawed girl-child marriage (“It’s an obnoxious and increased susceptibility to health risks, including
practice”, 2021, para. 1) aiming to eliminate this practice sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS (Raj et al.,
in the region. Nigeria, with its status as the most populous 2014; Kidman, 2016; Joint United Nations Program on
country in Africa, grapples with the intricate ramifications HIV/AIDS Campaign, 2004).
of child marriage (Osakinle & Tayo-Olajubutu, 2017),
particularly within its rural communities where poverty Studies consistently demonstrate elevated levels of
and limited educational opportunities contribute to its anxiety among women subjected to child marriage, with
perpetuation (Putri et al., 2021; Banlanjo & Ngalim, 2021). factors such as lack of autonomy, marital conflict, and
social isolation contributing to heightened psychological
The phenomenon of child marriage, defined as the distress (Raj et al., 2014; Kidman & Palermo, 2015).
union of individuals below the age of 18, poses significant Furthermore, depression emerges as a prevalent mental
challenges to the social work profession and the broader health concern among child brides, characterized by
global community (UNICEF, 2014). It intersects with feelings of hopelessness, low self-esteem, and impaired
various social determinants, influencing and perpetuating social functioning (Nour, 2009; Santhya et al., 2019). The
cycles of poverty, inequality, and gender-based violence. intersectionality of poverty, gender inequality, and early
Child marriage not only curtails the educational and marriage exacerbates the risk of depressive symptoms
economic opportunities of young girls but also jeopardizes among affected women (Kidman, 2016; Kamal & Ulas,
their physical, mental, and reproductive health (UNICEF, 2021). Moreover, research indicates a significant association
2021; Lebni et al., 2023). Despite the severity of these between child marriage and post-traumatic stress disorder
consequences, a comprehensive understanding of the (PTSD) symptoms, stemming from experiences of
specific health challenges faced by rural Nigerian women coercion, domestic violence, and sexual abuse within the
who enter marriage before the age of 18 is notably absent marital context (Santhya et al., 2018; Kottegoda et al.,
from the literature. 2008). Trauma resulting from early marriage perpetuates
The imperative to address the health consequences long-lasting psychological repercussions, affecting
of child marriage is underscored by the social work women’s overall well-being and quality of life (Kidman &
profession’s commitment to promoting social justice and Palermo, 2015).

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2024) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.2840