THE IMPLICATIONS OF TEENAGE MARRIAGE ON A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study: Early marriage is a problem that is acknowledged as a global concern by a large number of development workers all over the world. This issue is especially prevalent in the regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It is a developmental challenge and a barrier to young girls as they drop-out from school when they get married, a phenomenon that is very common in rural areas and poor household families in Africa, and it has a negative impact not only on young girls but also on society as a whole and the wellbeing of future generations (Denzin, & Lincon, 2). Millions of young people around the world suffer its negative consequences as it diverts them from opportunities of personal growth and development.

According to the findings of a report conducted by Pathfinder International in 2006, child marriage is still prevalent in the regions of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the middle east. The report also found that parents, in their roles as heads of families, continue to make decisions for their daughters and sons with little or no involvement and consultation from their children because of economic, cultural, and attitude-related factors. In the majority of cases, parents view the marriage of their young children as a strategy for building a family and protection from harmful practises that occur outside of marriage; however, only a small percentage of parents give consideration to the importance of educational attainment in order to provide the next generation with the skills necessary for them to ensure and maintain their wellbeing and quality of life (Fraenkel., & Wallen, ,2022). Early marriage is defined as any marriage that takes place between a child who is younger than 18 years old. As a result, the girls are forced to take on roles for which they are not emotionally or physically mature enough to perform, which robs them of the opportunity to enjoy their childhood. When it comes to the time of their wedding with their partner, many people have little choice. Some are forced into marriage, while others are not old enough to make an intelligent choice because they were married too early. They are deprived of the potential for personal development as well as their rights to complete reproductive health (RH), as well as well-being, education, and involvement in civic life (Ingrid, 2022). Premature marriage also violates their rights to full reproductive health (RH). However, despite the many drawbacks associated with it, marriage at a young age is still rather prevalent in many regions of the world. Twenty to fifty percent of women in developing nations get married before the age of eighteen, with the highest rates occurring in countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia (Singh and Samara, 1996:8). Practically everywhere, impoverished women in rural areas have a tendency to marry at a younger age than those in urban areas, and educational levels also play a crucial role in this phenomenon (UN, 2010:5). On the other hand, in the United States of America, 2.1% of all young women between the ages of 15 and 17 were married, while 7.6% of all young women between the ages of 15 and 19 were involved in an unwed relationship (UN, 2010:9). There are regions in Europe that practise early marriage, such as the United Kingdom, where 4.1 percent of all girls aged 15 to 19 were cohabiting (living in an informal union), and 8.9 percent of all girls in that age range claimed to having been in a cohabitation relation before the age of 18. According to Denzin and Lincon's research from 2022, more than 4% of all adolescent girls in the UK were already moms.

Early marriage is more common for young girls than it is for young men in Nigeria's rural and northern regions. In comparison, just 11.6% of young men get married before the age of 18, while 43.0% of young women do so before turning 18 years old. This percentage is far greater than the national prevalence rate, which is now estimated to be 34% for females and 1.4% for males (Plan International, 2011:1). Many explanations have been proposed to explain why people marry at such a young age. There is a possibility that low-income families may view a young girl as a financial burden and will view her marriage as a vital survival strategy for the family. The family will benefit socially as well as financially from her marriage (ICRW, 2007:98). In certain circumstances, parents willfully give their young daughters in marriage so that they might get payment in the form of bride riches and thereby improve the family's income. The cultural phenomena known as bride wealth is prevalent around the world, particularly in Africa, and it pushes parents to wed their daughters at a young age (UNICEF, 2001: 97). Because of cultural norms, the education of the boy kid is given greater importance than that of the girl child, and boys are typically given more preference than girls. It is considered a waste of money to educate the girl child because she would eventually be married somewhere else (Fraenkel., & Wallen, ,2022). ; “.

1.2     Statement of the Problem

The practice of early marriage mainly arises due to poverty, civil strife and low level of development. Some families believe that it limits and discourages promiscuity. Early marriage discriminates against the girl child’s right, limits her freedom to make decisions, isolates her from her peers, increases her risk of intimate sexual violence and sexually transmitted infections including HIV infection, predisposes her to complications of child birth such as obstructed labor and obstetric fistulae. Maternal mortality in pregnancy is four times higher among girls below the age of 16 years and their new born death rate is 50% higher compared to women who become pregnant after the age of 20 years. Early marriage also causes the girl child to discontinue or interrupt her education. Her children are also less likely to grow up healthy and go to school, thus continuing and worsening the cycle of poverty for generations to come.

1.5 Research Objectives

This study was guided by the following objectives;

1. To investigate the magnitude of early marriages among teenage girls in Otta, Ogun state.

2. To establish the implications of early marriage practices on teenage girls in Otta Ogun state.

3. To identify any strategies set against early marriage practices in Otta district.

1.6 Research Questions

1. To what extent the phenomenon of early marriages is a problem in Otta?

2. What are the implications of early marriages on teenage girls’ in Otta, Ogun state?

3. Are there any strategies to combat early marriages in otta?

1.6     Significance of the Study

Early marriage of the girl-child has been shown to be common in some Nigerian communities. It is associated with school dropout and poor quality of life for these young mothers and their families. There is limited information on early marriage and its implication on the girl-child most especially in northern Nigeria. This study will therefore expose the public to the burden of early marriage and its implications on the girl-child in Nigeria. This information should allow for intervention measures to be formulated and also formulation of a policy to address the problem. The study will also expose other gaps that exist within the field and prompt more investigations by other scholars. Finally, the study contributes to the literature on early marriage in Nigeria

1.7     Scope of the Study

This research on early marriage among teenagers, implication for sustainable future will be carried out in Otta, Ogun state i.e. Ado-Odo LGA in Ogun State, Nigeria.

1.8     Delimitation of the Study

Finance for the general research work will be a challenge during the course of study. Correspondents also might not be able to complete or willing to submit the questionnaires given to them.

However, it is believed that these constraints will be worked on by making the best use of the available materials and spending more than the necessary time in the research work. Therefore, it is strongly believed that despite these constraint, its implication on this research report will be minimal, thus, making the objective and significance of the study achievable.

1.9     Definition of Terms

Early Marriage: Child marriage is a formal marriage or informal union entered into by an individual before reaching a certain age, specified by several global organizations such as UNICEF as minors under the age of 18.

Teenagers: A teenager, or teen, is a person who falls within the ages of thirteen-nineteen years old

Sustainable: Sustainability is the process of maintaining change in a balanced fashion, in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development 

Future: a prospect of success or happiness.

1.11 Organization of the Study

This study is organized into five chapters. Chapter one has presented the problem and its context while chapter two presents the review of related literatures, its main concern is to identify the knowledge gap. Chapter three explains the research methodology, chapter four deals with data presentation, analysis and discussion and chapter five presents the summary, conclusion and recommendation of the study