The Effects of Child Marriage.

 What is child marriage❔

Child marriage is a union between a child and an adult or between two children. The child most times is very young,  starting from age nine. Actually the rate of child marriages is usually high and common in girls compare to boys. It is also deeply rooted in gender inequality.

According to UNICEF, Niger has the highest record of child marriage in the world. While Bangladesh has the highest rate of marriage involving girls from age 15. South Asia has a record of 42 percent of child marriages; India alone accounts for one third of the global total.

In the preceding paragraphs, the effects and consequences will be discussed.

Causes;  According to UNFPA, The main cause of child marriage is poverty. Other factors include;traditions and cultures,control over sexuality and protecting family honor and insecurity particularly during war, famine or epidemic. Some other factors include family ties in which marriage is a means of merging powerful relations between families. And also lack of education also promotes child marriage. 

In most cultures, the older a girl becomes, the higher her dowry will be. Which means that her parents will pay more money to the groom, for this very reason , most girls are married as early as 11. While in some countries, like in Bangladesh, when a girl is 17 and unmarried it could ruin her reputation and that of her family because people will think she is having affairs.

Effects and consequences;  Child marriage has a long lasting and devastating effect on a girl's life and also on her health. These include;

1. It's ends her childhood, she is forced to be an adult before she is physically and emotionally ready to be an adult.
2. Child brides are less likely to remained in school after marriage.
3. They are at high risk of physical and sexual abuse.
4. They have more chances of dying due to pregnancy complications.
5. Due to the fact that their is not ready for child bearing they easily have obstetric fistula.
6. They can also easily contact HIV.
7. Psychologically, they are more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) and depression.
8. Due to the age difference and imbalance of power, alongside lack of love, many are not able to discuss contraceptives with their husbands which often leads to frequent pregnancies.

Some organisations such as UNICEF and UNFPA together launched the Global Program to End Child Marriage in 2016. And also GIRLS NOT BRIDES is a global partnership organisation aim to stop child marriage and enabling girls fulfill their potentials.

 PLEASE LET'S END CHILD MARRIAGES