Understanding the impacts of child marriage on the health and well-being of adolescent girls and young women residing in urban areas in Egypt

Background Egypt has made progress in delaying age at marriage, but child marriage continues to be practiced in many places across the country. This study investigates the impacts of child marriage on the health and wellbeing of girls residing in urban Egypt using a multi-method approach. Methods The quantitative component leveraged data from the 2014 Egypt Demographic and Health Survey and focused on (1) reproductive health, (2) maternal health and (3) social outcomes among a subsample of ever-married urban women ages 20–24 (N = 1041). Simple and multivariable logistic regressions were used to estimate prevalence odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for associations between child marriage and the three sets of outcomes. The qualitative component drew from 11 focus groups, 23 in-depth interviews, and 13 key informant interviews conducted in three urban sites in Egypt. The data was thematically analyzed using a combination of inductive and deductive coding. Results The prevalence of marriage under age 18 was 13.22%. Child marriage was significantly associated with ever use of contraception (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 2.95 95% CI 1.67–5.19), multiple births (AOR 12.93 95% CI 5.45–30.72), rapid repeat childbirth (AOR 2.20 95% CI 1.34–3.63), and pregnancy termination (AOR 1.89 95% CI 1.11–3.23). Many of these associations disappeared after adjusting for marriage duration. Girls married under age 18 had larger spousal age gaps (AOR 2.06; 95% CI 1.24–3.41) and higher odds of FGM (AOR 2.14; 95% CI 1.11–4.13). They were significantly more likely to report receiving no ANC care (AOR 0.39; 95% CI 0.19–0.80), and less likely to deliver through C-section (AOR: 0.53; 95% CI 0.34–0.83). Consequences emerging from the qualitative data centered around five themes: (1) Access to and use of sexual and reproductive health services; (2) exposure to FGM; (3) marriage and birth registration; (4) marital relations; and (5) relationship with in-laws. Conclusion Findings provide important insights into the practice of child marriage in urban areas in Egypt and illustrate a range of adverse consequences associated with the practice.

Overlooked and unaddressed: A narrative review of mental health consequences of child marriages

Child Marriage (before the age of 18) affects over 12 million young women globally, annually. Despite acknowledgement of the negative impacts of the practice on reproductive health, mental health consequences are largely overlooked. Given the ability for poor mental health to intensify other health and social challenges, understanding the mental health consequences linked to child marriage is vital. Our study is the first to examine how mental health is approached in current literature on child marriage. Our conceptual framework was informed by a rapid assessment of key issues in the field. Systematic searches of papers published between 2000–2020 were completed on four electronic databases with no language restrictions. Our protocol was registered on Prospero (CRD42019139685). Articles were assessed using PRISMA guidelines, and their quality assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. Of the 4,457 records identified, 21 papers meeting inclusion criteria were analysed using narrative synthesis. The final sample included 5 qualitative, 1 mixed-methods and 15 quantitative studies (14 cross-sectional and 1 longitudinal study) reporting on data from 12 countries, largely in the global south. Intimate partner violence, poverty, challenges in childbirth and isolation were identified as social factors linked to emotional distress by those married as children. Depression was the most reported mental disorder. Anxiety, phobias, psychological distress, substance misuse, negative well-being and anti-social personality disorder were reported less frequently. Findings highlight that while significant emotional distress and specific mental health conditions are linked to child marriage, gaps in our understanding remain. Future studies are needed to; clarify directionality in these relationships; understand the mental health needs of young men, LGBTQI communities and those in humanitarian settings. Given the well documented cyclical relationship between social determinants and mental health conditions, we outline a series of community-oriented interventions which blend psychological, social and structural support to promote mental health and wellbeing in the contexts of child marriage.

Child bride, a story that never ends: A look at experiences of Iranian women

Child marriage is one of the issues that deprive many young girls of their basic rights and lives. The present study aimed to explore Iranian child brides’ experiences of the consequences of early marriage. The participants were women living in Tehran who had married at the age of 14–18 years. The analysis of the participants’ experiences revealed four main themes, including ‘underlying causes of early marriages’, ‘concerns and negative feelings’, ‘exposure to violence’, and ‘consequences of early marriages’. Awareness of these challenges can provide useful insights to be used by social workers and policymakers to further support these women.

PERAN UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND (UNICEF) DALAM MENANGGULANGI MASALAH PERNIKAHAN ANAK

Abstrak Penelitian ini membahas tentang Peranan United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) dalam Penanggulangan Masalah Perkawinan Anak di Indonesia Periode 2014-2017. Salah satu masalah besar yang dihadapi Indonesia adalah isu pernikahan anak masih marak di Indonesia. UNICEF adalah salah satu organisasi internasional yang bergerak dalam melindungi anak-anak dan perempuan di seluruh dunia. Peran UNICEF dalam menangani masalah pernikahan anak di Indonesia telah diangkat sebagai bahan penelitian. Konsep Organisasi Internasional, Teori Peran, dan Perkawinan Anak digunakan dalam edisi ini. Untuk mengatasi masalah pernikahan anak di Indonesia, UNICEF melakukan program kerja sama dengan Pemerintah Indonesia yang diharapkan dapat mengurangi pernikahan anak sehingga anak-anak di Indonesia mendapatkan hak-haknya dengan baik. Dalam menjalankan perannya di Indonesia, UNICEF merupakan organisasi internasional yang berfungsi sebagai instrumen. UNICEF memberikan dukungan dan motivasi kepada Pemerintah Indonesia untuk membantu menangani perkawinan anak untuk memastikan bahwa semua anak di Indonesia, baik laki-laki maupun perempuan, dapat memperoleh haknya dari pendidikan, kesehatan, dan perlindungan. Abstract This research discusses the role of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Tackling Child Marriage Problems in Indonesia, Period 2014-2017. One of the major problems faced by Indonesia is that the issue of child marriage is still rampant in Indonesia. UNICEF is one of the international organizations engaged in protecting children and women worldwide. UNICEF's role in tackling the problem of child marriage in Indonesia has been raised as a matter of research. The International Organization, Role Theory, and Child Marriage concepts are used in this issue. To tackle the problem of child marriage in Indonesia, UNICEF conducted a cooperation program with the Government of Indonesia, which is expected to reduce child marriage so that children in Indonesia get their rights well. In carrying out its role in Indonesia, UNICEF is an international organization that functions as an instrument. UNICEF provides support and motivation to the Government of Indonesia to help tackle child marriages to ensure that all children in Indonesia, both men, and women, can get their rights from education, health, and protection.

Menekan Perkawinan Anak Melalui Keberpihakan Akses Perempuan di Indonesia

Child marriage in Indonesia is the highest in the world. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics recorded 1.220.990 girls in Indonesia were married before 18. This article uses literature research to describe the impact of child marriage and policymakers' strategic steps and efforts to curb the high rate of child marriage in Indonesia. Early marriage leads to a vicious cycle of low educational attainment, domestic violence, health, maternal and child health, high maternal mortality, and poverty. As marriage ages, regulation has been changing as a strategy to reduce child marriage. Unfortunately, there is no specific regulation of the marriage dispensation, which creates a gap in the number of weddings and the regulatory aspects of strategic efforts, providing women with immediate access to education, health, and work. Ensuring fair and equitable access between men and women is carried out to the maximum extent from a gender perspective in development policies strategies in Indonesia.

Article 36: The Right to Protection from Other Forms of Exploitation

Abstract‘There should be awareness raising and campaigns through different mediums such as radio, TV, newspapers, forums and blogging on trafficking, abductions, child labour, child marriage and all forms of violation and discrimination against children and youths.’ (Africa).

Analysis of Child Marriage and Related Policies in Indonesia: Sustainable Development Issue

Child marriage is a prevalent social problem in developing countries, including Indonesia, and its implementation has been prohibited in all regions of Indonesia. The revision of the marriage law that lifts up the minimum age limit for child marriage and the implementation of the child protection policy does not inevitably guarantee that the practice of child marriage can be avoided. The research objective of this study was to analyze the success of the factors and the effectiveness of the implementation of policies on handling the practice of child marriage in achieving sustainable goals in Indonesia. Data collection was performed using a profile approach utilizing data from the National Development Planning Agency of 2016-2019, desk review of the literature, and stock-taking of relevant research studies. Moreover, the effectiveness of policy implementation is assessed using a contingency analysis of the factors of policy commitment and government capacity. The results showed that the effectiveness of policy implementation from the factor of policy commitment was performed through the integration of the goals of SDGs into the national strategy for preventing child marriage, enforcement of main policy changes, mapping of regional-based issue trends and root causes, mapping of regional-level derivative policies issued before main policy revision changes, harmonization and synchronization of various policies through derivative policies, planning and development at the regional and village levels. Adjustment in the factor of implementation capacity of policy is indicated by institutional convergence and synergy of various parties, including learning from various good practices in the regions. The contingency matrix-based policy application model for handling the practice of child marriage will be effective if it utilizes a progressive model.

MARGINALISASI PEREMPUAN DALAM PERKAWINAN (TELAAH ATAS NIKAH SIRRI DAN NIKAH ANAK DI BAWA USIA PERSPEKTIF HUKUM ISLAM)

Marginalization of women in marriage is an issue that always invites debate among Islamic law thinkers, given the ever-changing social conditions of society so that the laws and regulations governing marital problems underwent the first amendment in 2019. This paper focuses on how the position of women in unregistered marriages and child marriages in Islamic law perspective. With a normative approach and legal sociology, this paper confirms a conclusion that the position of women in unregistered marriages and child marriages is very vulnerable to obtaining legal certainty and justice. Even though it is said that child marriage in under age, the original law is permissible according to Islamic law, but it does not mean that it is absolutely permissible for all women in all circumstances. Because in some women there are several conditions that indicate that it is better for her not to marry at an early age. Likewise, unregistered marriages are legally valid according to Islamic law because they have fulfilled the requirements and pillars of marriage, but have not received recognition from the state which results in legal uncertainty for the status of marriage and children born from the marriage. Therefore, Indonesia as a state of law, regulates matters relating to this matter. Namely by requiring the registring of every marriage held and amending the articles of legislation governing the provisions of the age of marriage in order to ensure legal protection and benefit for the parties bound in a marriage bond, especially for wives and children born from marriages. Abstrak Marginalisasi perempuan dalam perkawinan merupakan isu yang selalu mengundang perdebatan di kalangan pemikir hukum Islam, mengingat kondisi sosial masyarakat yang selalu berubah sehingga peraturan perundang-undangan yang mengatur masalah perkawinan mengalami amandemen pertama pada tahun 2019. Tulisan ini fokus pada bagaimana kedudukan perempuan dalam nikah sirri dan nikah anak di bawah usia dalam perspektif hukum Islam. Dengan pendekatan normativitas dan sosiologi hukum tulisan ini menegaskan suatu kesimpulan bahwa kedudukan perempuan dalam perkawinan sirri dan perkawinan anak di bawah usia sangatlah rentan untuk memperoleh kepastian dan keadilan hukum. Sekalipun dikatakan bahwa perkawinan anak di bawah usia, hukum asalnya diperbolehkan menurut syariat Islam, tetapi tidak berarti ia di bolehkan secara mutlak bagi semua perempuan dalam semua keadaan. Sebab pada sebagian perempuan terdapat beberapa kondisi yang menunjukkan bahwa lebih baik ia tidak menikah pada usia dini. Begitupun dengan nikah sirri yang hukumnya sah menurut syariat Islam karena telah memenuhi syarat-syarat dan rukun nikah, akan tetapi tidak memperoleh pengakuan dari negara yang mengakibatkan ketidakpastian hukum bagi status perkawinan dan anak yang lahir dari perkawinan tersebut. Oleh karenanya Indonesia sebagai negara hukum, mengatur hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan hal ini. Yaitu dengan mengharuskan pencatatan terhadap setiap perkawinan yang diselenggarakan serta mengamandemen pasal-pasal peraturan perundang-undangan yang mengatur tentang ketentuan umur perkawinan guna menjamin perlindungan hukum dan kemaslahatan bagi pihak-pihak yang terikat dalam suatu ikatan perkawinan, khususnya bagi istri dan anak yang lahir dari perkawinan tersebut.