Page 54 - GHES-2-3

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

of anxiety, depression, and PTSD among affected women. social, economic, and psychological dimensions related to
Participants revealed that they are being taunted by family planning and childbearing. Several participants in
memories, loneliness, PTSD, and others. Here are their the study recounted experiencing obstetric complications
responses: and adverse birth outcomes due to underage marriage.
“The constant uncertainty about the future is Others narrated their ordeals resulting from child marriage.
overwhelming. I got married so young, and According to them, the reproductive consequences include
now every decision feels like a burden. Anxiety but are not limited to uterine rupture, preterm birth,
creeps in when I think about what lies ahead” inability to control urine, and inability to conceive again.
(Participant 6, 36 years). Some women during the interview said the following:
“Being married off so young made me feel “I faced complications during my first childbirth.
isolated, while my friends were still in school, I It was not easy for me to push out my baby during
was navigating married life. Loneliness crept in, delivery because my cervix was yet to develop.
and I struggled to connect with others in my age” The toll it took on my body was immense. Child
(Participant 11, 24 years). marriage increases the risk and many of us bear
the consequences. Till now, controlling urine is
“The loneliness is intense. It seems that one is still difficult for me” (Participant 20, 39 years).
in a different phase of life compared to their
peers. It’s hard to relate, and that isolation takes “Becoming a mother so early brings complications.
a toll on your mental well-being” (Participant 16, Our bodies are not fully developed, and it takes a
33 years). toll during childbirth. My uterine ruptured and I
was rushed to a bigger hospital out of this village.
“I had dreams, aspirations, but they were shattered Thank God I and my baby survived it but that was
by early marriage. Depression set in when I the end of reproduction for me. Since then, I had
realized I couldn’t pursue my goals. It’s a constant no other child and I am 43 years now.… it is a
battle with unmet expectations” (Participant 19, silent struggle” (Participant 11, 24 years).
38 years).
“I experienced preterm birth, and it was a scary
“Depression hits when you see others your age experience. The body is not fully developed, and
thriving in their pursuits, and you’re left dealing it left a negative impact in my life. Child marriage
with responsibilities beyond your years. It’s a shouldn’t force you into such risks. I just wish
silent struggle” (Participant 12, 35 years). my father is here to see my problem. He forced
“The early days of my marriage still haunt me. me into this because he believed that marrying
The trauma of being forced into such a life at a off girls early ensures their purity and safeguards
young age lingers. It’s like reliving those moments family honor” (Participant 15, 41 years).
in my nightmares” (Participant 14, 35 years).
4. Discussion
“Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is real. The
memories of being a child bride, the expectations, While the specific context of child marriage among women
the fear – it’s a heavy burden to carry. It feels in the Etteh and Enugu-Ezike communities in Igbo-Eze
like I can’t escape my own past” (Participant 3, North Local Government Area of Enugu State brings unique
25 years). insights, it is valuable to relate these findings to broader
research on child marriage and its health consequences
3.2.3. Theme 3: The reproductive health implications across different regions. The distinctive features of the
of child marriage study area, coupled with its unique cultural background,
The findings highlighted the significant health implications set apart the repercussions of child marriage examined in
of child marriage, particularly concerning reproductive this study from those observed in other research endeavors.
health. Reproductive consequences encompass a broader Existing studies corroborate and augment the findings,
range of effects on the reproductive health and overall offering a more comprehensive understanding of the global
well-being of the individuals involved. This situation implications of child marriage on maternal health, mental
includes the impact of early marriage on fertility, maternal well-being, and reproductive health.
and child health, and access to reproductive health-care Research conducted in various regions, including South
services. Moreover, reproductive consequences extend Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East, consistently
beyond the immediate physical aspects to encompass underscores the adverse maternal health outcomes

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2024) 7 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.2840