Forced and child marriages in East Africa
Table of Contents
Executive summary....................................................................................................................1
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Background Information........................................................................................................2
Child Marriage in East Africa..................................................................................................4
Statement of the Problem......................................................................................................5
Objectives of the Study..........................................................................................................6
Literature Review.......................................................................................................................6
Effects of Child Marriages in Eastern Africa.........................................................................10
Research Methodology............................................................................................................11
Results......................................................................................................................................13
Discussion and Conclusion.......................................................................................................18
Causes of Forced and Child Marriages.................................................................................19
Evidence-Based Interventions to Reduce Child Marriages in Eastern Africa.......................21
Conclusion................................................................................................................................23
Outcomes/Recommendations.................................................................................................24
Reference List...........................................................................................................................25
, Executive summary
The aim of this study is to explore and determine evidence-based interventions that could
resolve the issue of forced and underage marriages in the sub-Saharan regions, specifically in
East Africa. While the topic in discussion is not a new research problem, given the number of
published literatures, child marriage is still a perennial issue. The empirical evidence shows
that the issue of child marriage is not uniquely African but is highly prevalent among
countries in Africa, making the region a fertile ground for this study. The study adopted the
use of systematic research of literature to identify the primary causes and effects of child
marriages as well as the effective interventions that can be put in place to address the
problems in Eastern Africa. The literature review was limited to articles discussing
eradication of child marriages and published between 2005 and 2018, using "forced
marriage” and "child marriage" as the primary keywords. The findings showed that cultural
practices, social stratification, poverty, and lack of education are the main drivers of early
marriages in Africa. This study recommends a prompt implementation of strict legal
mechanisms, education for females, and empowerment to elevate the status of girls and
young women through exposure and training.
1
, Introduction
Background Information
Child and forced marriages still haunt the well-being of young girls around the world,
especially in Africa. The extensive cases of underage children forced into early marriages in
Africa, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, have sparked numerous studies that aim to identify
the most effective ways to eradicate this trend from the region. The term child marriage refers
to the forced wedlock between children who are yet to reach the age of majority, which is 18
years in most countries (Svanemy et al. 2012; Bouris and Hill 2017). On the other hand,
forced marriage refers to a situation wherein a child is coerced into getting married when
he/she is not willing, or is physically and physiologically not ready, to take on the
responsibilities of married life (Bayisenge 2010). Furthermore, the victims of forced and
child marriages are subjected to early sexual experiences and are likely to conceive children
who are at risk of premature death. Walker (2012) observes that African nations make up
approximately 18 out of the top 20 countries that have been recorded to have the highest rates
of early marriages, with the sub-Saharan region, particularly East Africa, taking the lead.
In a study by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
in 2015, as cited by Guedes et al. (2016), 39 percent of women aged 20-24 around the world
who were married before they reached the age of 18 hailed from sub-Saharan Africa.
According to Maswikwa et al. (2015), one out of every ten girls there are married before the
age of 15 years, and four in every ten are married before they reach the age of 18 years. The
outcome of the study is affirmed by another study that conducted in the Southern Africa
region which showed that 15 million girls are married in their adolescence annually in Africa,
while over 720 million were forced by their parents or guardians to enter into wedlock before
they reached the age of 18.
2
Table of Contents
Executive summary....................................................................................................................1
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Background Information........................................................................................................2
Child Marriage in East Africa..................................................................................................4
Statement of the Problem......................................................................................................5
Objectives of the Study..........................................................................................................6
Literature Review.......................................................................................................................6
Effects of Child Marriages in Eastern Africa.........................................................................10
Research Methodology............................................................................................................11
Results......................................................................................................................................13
Discussion and Conclusion.......................................................................................................18
Causes of Forced and Child Marriages.................................................................................19
Evidence-Based Interventions to Reduce Child Marriages in Eastern Africa.......................21
Conclusion................................................................................................................................23
Outcomes/Recommendations.................................................................................................24
Reference List...........................................................................................................................25
, Executive summary
The aim of this study is to explore and determine evidence-based interventions that could
resolve the issue of forced and underage marriages in the sub-Saharan regions, specifically in
East Africa. While the topic in discussion is not a new research problem, given the number of
published literatures, child marriage is still a perennial issue. The empirical evidence shows
that the issue of child marriage is not uniquely African but is highly prevalent among
countries in Africa, making the region a fertile ground for this study. The study adopted the
use of systematic research of literature to identify the primary causes and effects of child
marriages as well as the effective interventions that can be put in place to address the
problems in Eastern Africa. The literature review was limited to articles discussing
eradication of child marriages and published between 2005 and 2018, using "forced
marriage” and "child marriage" as the primary keywords. The findings showed that cultural
practices, social stratification, poverty, and lack of education are the main drivers of early
marriages in Africa. This study recommends a prompt implementation of strict legal
mechanisms, education for females, and empowerment to elevate the status of girls and
young women through exposure and training.
1
, Introduction
Background Information
Child and forced marriages still haunt the well-being of young girls around the world,
especially in Africa. The extensive cases of underage children forced into early marriages in
Africa, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, have sparked numerous studies that aim to identify
the most effective ways to eradicate this trend from the region. The term child marriage refers
to the forced wedlock between children who are yet to reach the age of majority, which is 18
years in most countries (Svanemy et al. 2012; Bouris and Hill 2017). On the other hand,
forced marriage refers to a situation wherein a child is coerced into getting married when
he/she is not willing, or is physically and physiologically not ready, to take on the
responsibilities of married life (Bayisenge 2010). Furthermore, the victims of forced and
child marriages are subjected to early sexual experiences and are likely to conceive children
who are at risk of premature death. Walker (2012) observes that African nations make up
approximately 18 out of the top 20 countries that have been recorded to have the highest rates
of early marriages, with the sub-Saharan region, particularly East Africa, taking the lead.
In a study by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
in 2015, as cited by Guedes et al. (2016), 39 percent of women aged 20-24 around the world
who were married before they reached the age of 18 hailed from sub-Saharan Africa.
According to Maswikwa et al. (2015), one out of every ten girls there are married before the
age of 15 years, and four in every ten are married before they reach the age of 18 years. The
outcome of the study is affirmed by another study that conducted in the Southern Africa
region which showed that 15 million girls are married in their adolescence annually in Africa,
while over 720 million were forced by their parents or guardians to enter into wedlock before
they reached the age of 18.
2
