UNDERAGE MARRIAGE.. The Selfish Act

Physical, social and psychological consequences of child marriage

Young girls who get married will most likely be forced into having sexual intercourse with their, usually much older, husbands. This has severe
negative health consequences as the girl is often not psychologically ,physically and sexually mature.

Child brides are likely to become pregnant at an early age and there is a strong correlation between the age of a mother and maternal mortality and morbidity. Girls aged l0-14 are five times more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth than women aged 20-24 and girls aged 15-19 are
twice as likely to die. The body of a young girl is not yet ready for pregnancy and childbirth, which leads to complications such as obstructed labour and obstetric fistula. Obstetric fistula can also be caused by the early sexual relations
associated with child marriage, which take place sometimes even before menarche. Good prenatal
care reduces the risk of childbirth complications, but in many instances, due to their limited autonomy or freedom of movement, young wives
have no access to health services, which aggravates the risks of maternal complications and mortality for pregnant adolescents. Because young girls are not ready for the responsibilities and roles of being a wife, sexual partner and a mother, child marriage has a serious negative impact on their psychological well-being and personal development.

On top of pregnancy-related complications, young married girls are also at high risk of contracting
HIV/AIDS. Girls are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS as compared to boys due to physical and social factors. Young married girls are even at higher risk because their older husbands may already be infected in previous sexual relationships.

Furthermore, the age difference
between the girl and the husband and her low economic status make it almost impossible for the girl to negotiate safe sex or demand fidelity.

Girls and women who are married younger, especially when married as children, are more likely to experience domestic violence and to believe that it is justified for a man to beat his wife. In addition, child brides are least likely to take action against
this abuse. Domestic violence seriously endangers the physical and mental health of women and girls and can even put their lives at risk.

Gender inequality is both a cause as well as a consequence of child marriage. Child brides usually have lower levels of education than girls who get married at an older age. Education is therefore seen as a way to prevent child marriages. Once a girl is married, she experiences a lack of autonomy to make personal decisions about her life. Early marriage, together with its relation to low levels of education, high levels
of violence and abuse, severe health risks and harmful power dynamics, results in increased vulnerability to poverty for girls and young women.

Child marriage is a violation of human rights and is prohibited by a number of
international conventions.