In the UK the average age for a woman to marry is 31. By this time a woman will have been to school, possibly onto university, have developed a career and may have had a child. Whichever course her life has taken before she made the choice to marry, she will have had control.
But for the 700 million women around the world who were married before 18, there was little, if any, choice involved. These child brides will experience many early marriage problems, which cause untold damage to themselves, their children and their communities.
The Main Early Marriage Problems
For girls in developing nations, being married before the age of 18 brings with it many problems. These issues not only impact their lives but also those of others around them.
1. Lower Life Expectancy. There are several factors at play that decrease a girl’s life expectancy is she marries young. Child brides will often fall pregnant and give birth before their bodies fully mature. This increases their risk of dying during pregnancy and childbirth. Each year 50,000 teenagers die of pregnancy complications3. Victims of early marriage also have higher rates of HIV/AIDS and other STIs due to lack of control over contraception. They are also more likely to suffer physical violence.
2. Higher Infant Death Rates. Early marriage problems also affect children of child brides. Teenage mothers are more likely to suffer problems in pregnancy and childbirth, such as premature birth and stillbirths. Infant mortality is 50% higher in children of mothers under the age of 20 than those who are over 24.
3. Lower Educational Attainment. Of all the early marriage problems this one has perhaps the furthest reaching impact. In many developing nations girls already have limited access to education, but once they are married off their education stops altogether. A girl with no education is 3 times more likely to marry before 18 as girls with secondary education5. It’s a cyclical problem, as daughters of young, uneducated mothers are more likely to drop out of school and marry young.
You Can Help Stop These Early Marriage Problems
Early marriage is a cultural practice and cannot be stopped easily. It requires a radical change in the beliefs and values of communities and countries, but if nothing is done the negative impacts of early marriage problems will continue to be felt.
There is a worldwide effort to bring about an end to early and forced marriage. By empowering girls with education and support, educating wider communities about early marriage problems and championing laws that ban early marriage we can end this harmful practice.
You can give child marriage the finger by supporting Plan UK’s Ring campaign to end early marriage.
This is a promotional post
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Horrifies me to think of girls the age of my niece being forced to marry and have children so young.
Donna@MummyCentral recently posted…Competition: Win a canvas print from Wallcreate
It is so hard to imagine this life when we have so many choices in the Western world. Will share the post x
Donna @ Little Lilypad Co recently posted…Put down the technology, pick up a book this half term.
Thanks Donna. I can’t even imagine what these poor girls go through, completely robbed off their childhood and future x
Some scary stats there isn’t there? Thanks for sharing this x x
Cass@frugalfamily recently posted…#Thrifty Thursday – How to organise your shoes….
A chilling post. I can’t bear to think that in this day and age we are still fighting to end early marriage. It does show that we have a LONG way to go yet. Thanks for highlighting this cause.
Mari recently posted…Shorne Country Park: my Better Place
I agree. It is so worrying that this still happens and it sadenness me.
Otilia recently posted…Sisters – Dressing up
I frequently talk about this to my students. Something has to change.
Emma recently posted…Choose the right degree for your kids
This is such an important campaign. Thanks for sharing xx
Alice recently posted…MTT: Cheesy Toad In The Hole with Caramelised Onion Gravy
It’s truly awful to think that this goes on, especially forced marriage. A great campaign to highlight, thank you
Boo Roo and Tigger Too recently posted…Are you staying safe on the school run?
Child marriage is appalling and I am so glad so many more girls are being educated and this will help to stop the cycle. Mich x
Michelle Twin Mum recently posted…Bursting with joy in London