Impact of Child Marriage on Community Health:An Empirical Study in Ethiopia

Child marriage is not a strange news for anyone. It is a marriage in which a child under the age of 18 years is involved. Though such marriages occur worldwide, they are mainly seen in South Asia. Africa, and Latin America. Child marriage is a harmful traditional practice that perpetuates an unrelenting cycle of gender inequality, sickness and poverty. Child marriage - the result of ignorance and evil social practice - was found during early civilization of humanity. It was considered more appropriate, socially accepted, recognized and prevalent in the primitive period .Child marriage cannot be ruled out even in the era of globalization even today in Ethiopia. There are many problems associated with child marriages such as social, physical, economical and psychological. It can be viewed as a case of human rights violation. Child marriage directly impacts girls' education, health, psychological well-being, and the health of their offspring. It increases the risk of depression, sexually transmitted infection, cervical cancer, malaria, obstetric fistulas, and maternal mortality. The offspring of child marriage includes increased risk of premature birth and, subsequently, neonatal or infant death. However, various studies show that many of child marriages - where the girls are forced to be married before they are socially, psychologically and physically well developed - the marriages through abduction are practised in different parts of developing countries especially in Africa . There are many factors responsible for this practice, the most common being poverty, protection of girls, family honour and the provision of stability during unstable social periods, lack opportunities for girls, lack of awareness about adverse health consequences, and the another big problem is the lack of awareness of law and also inadequate implementation of the existing laws. This practice is especially common in rural areas and amongst economically backward families. The daughter is married off at an young age to relieve the families from their economic responsibilities. Prevention of child marriages is imperative not merely from the child and human rights perspective but also in the interest of meeting several national goals and millennium development goals. To stop child marriage, policies and programs must educate communities, raise awareness, engage local and religious leaders, involve parents, and empower girls through education and employment. Successful community interventions, strict enforcement of legislation can also reduce child marriage rates.