Child Marriage - Rahma Health

Child Marriage: Understanding the Harmful Impact and How We Can Help

Child marriage is a deeply harmful practice affecting millions of children worldwide, including in Australia.

Child marriage is particularly widespread in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia, and Latin America. Sadly, child marriage is on the rise in the Arabic-speaking world, with one in three girls in Iraq, Sudan and Egypt getting married before the age of 18. This places them at significant risk of physical, psychological, and social harms.

What is Child Marriage?

Child marriage refers to any formal marriage or informal union where one or both parties are under 18. This practice violates several fundamental human rights, including the right to health, education, and protection from abuse.

Child marriage is illegal under international law.

The Impact of Child Marriage on Girls

Girls are disproportionately affected by child marriage and bear the brunt of its harmful effects. The outcomes are wide-ranging and affect their mental health, education, physical health, and economic stability. The impacts include:

Loss of Education and Future Opportunities: Girls who marry young are often forced to leave school, limiting their educational attainment and opportunities. Lack of education hinders their ability to secure good jobs and makes them more vulnerable to poverty, perpetuating a cycle of economic disadvantage.
Physical and Mental Health Risks: Young brides are at heightened risk of serious health complications from early pregnancies. Since their bodies are not fully developed, these girls face higher rates of maternal mortality and obstetric complications like obstetric fistula, a devastating condition that leads to incontinence and social ostracization. Additionally, the psychological toll of early marriage can result in depression, isolation, and low self-esteem, further exacerbating their vulnerabilities.
Increased Risk of Domestic Violence: Married girls are more likely to experience domestic violence, as they often lack the economic and social power to leave or report abusive situations. The power imbalance between young brides and older husbands can foster an environment where physical, emotional, and psychological abuse is prevalent, negatively impacting their mental health and reducing their autonomy.
Impact on Future Generations: Child brides tend to have less knowledge about reproductive health and family planning, leading to closely spaced pregnancies that may impact both mother and child health. The intergenerational effects of child marriage also extend to the next generation, with the children of young mothers at greater risk of malnutrition, poor health, and lower educational attainment.

Impact of Child Marriage on Babies and Children

The consequences of child marriage are not limited to young brides; they extend to their children as well

Health and Developmental Issues: Babies born to young mothers are more likely to be born prematurely or with low birth weights, making them vulnerable to health issues. Child mortality rates are also higher among children born to adolescent mothers.
Psychosocial Development: When children are born to teenage parents, they often experience disrupted bonding, as adolescent parents may struggle to provide the emotional and social support that infants need. This early bonding is crucial to a child’s long-term emotional health, shaping their self-esteem, sense of security, and resilience in life. Children who lack a secure bond with their caregivers are more prone to issues such as anxiety, depression, and difficulties in forming healthy relationships later in life.
Educational and Economic Impact: Children of young mothers may also experience economic disadvantages due to limited resources and social support. With reduced family income and the mother’s educational gaps, these children often lack the resources needed for a healthy start in life, impacting their growth, education, and opportunities in adulthood.

Impact of Child Marriage on Boys and Men

Although child marriage affects girls disproportionately, boys are also impacted, often forced to marry at a young age without the opportunity to complete their education or explore their identities. Young husbands may face mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, especially if they witness traumatic complications during their young wives’ pregnancies and childbirth. These emotional and economic strains contribute to an increased likelihood of divorce or strained marital relationships.

Why Ending Child Marriage is Important for Rahma Health

At Rahma Health, we are committed to empowering parents to provide the best possible start in life for their children. We focus on early childhood development (ages 0-5), recognizing the critical role that supportive, stable, and nurturing environments play in a child’s development. However, child marriage hinders parents’ ability to meet their children’s needs and creates a cycle of disadvantages that can span generations. A parent’s age, readiness, and education level all significantly impact their ability to provide for their children’s physical, emotional, and psychological needs. By working to end child marriage, we are taking a necessary step toward fostering healthier, more resilient families.

How Can We Reduce the Incidence of Child Marriage?

Promoting Education: Data indicates that keeping girls in school is one of the most effective ways to prevent child marriage. Education provides young girls with knowledge, skills, and future opportunities, making early marriage less appealing and achievable.
Addressing Poverty: In countries where poverty has decreased, such as Taiwan and South Korea, rates of child marriage have significantly dropped. Financial stability reduces the economic pressures that sometimes drive families to marry off their children early.
Raising Awareness and Community Engagement: Education programs that raise awareness of the harmful impacts of child marriage and promote gender equality can foster cultural change. Community leaders, religious figures, and educators can play a crucial role in shifting social norms toward valuing children’s education and well-being.
Supporting Legal Reform: Enforcing laws that set the minimum age for marriage at 18 and prosecuting violators are crucial steps toward ending child marriage. When these laws are strictly upheld, they provide legal protection for children and serve as a deterrent for potential violators.

Support in Australia

In Australia, child marriage is illegal, and forced marriage is classified as a criminal offense akin to slavery. Support services are available for individuals at risk of child marriage, including the following:

Australian Federal Police: If you or someone you know is at risk of forced or child marriage, contact the Australian Federal Police at 13 12 37 or 131 AFP. For immediate emergencies, call 000.
Support Services: Organizations like 1800RESPECT and the Australian Human Rights Commission provide support, resources, and guidance for those affected by forced or child marriage.