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Table 2 Comparison of the age groups within each subtheme (theme: health risk behaviour)

From: Why girls get married early in Sarawak, Malaysia - an exploratory qualitative study

Group 1 (18–25 years)

Group 2 (26–35 years)

Group 3 (> 35 years old)

Subtheme 1: Unprotected Intercourse and Pre-marital Conception

“Actually I...got pregnant before marriage. So, we got married. Actually, we were planning to get married even before the pregnancy anyway.” (No. 5, Malay, married at 17 years old.)

“Because I was 3 months pregnant (outside of marriage). I told her (grandmother) I didn’t want to (get married). My grandmother on my father’s side gave me two choices. First, she would send me to the city to study, and she told me to abort the baby. But then I didn’t want to. I had sinned once (by becoming pregnant outside of marriage); I didn’t want to commit another one.” (No. 6, Malay, married at 17 years old.)

“I was pregnant. I had sex outside of marriage.” (No. 12, Malay, married at 17 years old.)

“(I got married) because I was pregnant at that time. I didn’t want it (marriage) at first. But what could I do; I’ve gone overboard.” (No. 14, Malay, married at 16 years old.)

“How do I say this... when I was pregnant with the first child, I wasn’t.... when I was pregnant, I wasn’t married yet.” (No. 23, Malay, married at 16 years old.)

“I was in the middle of Form 4 (at 16 years old) and then I quit school. Because, um, pregnant. Because I was pregnant, I could not finish my studies.” (No. 4, Malay, married at 16 years old.)

We had sexual relations (before marriage) then, even though it was wrong. Then I found out about the pregnancy at the time when I was working.” (No. 1, Malay, married at 15 years old.)

“When we were young we didn’t plan to get married, but at that time we were caught doing indecencies. So according to Islam, we had to get married.” (No. 15, Iban, married at 17 years old.)

“Well, when I was young, I had pre-marital sex. So, we had to get married. Our parents told us to get married as well, so it was better to get married.” (No. 17, Malay, married at 17 years old.)

Subtheme 2: Alcohol and Drug Misuse

After I quit school, I did nothing but just enjoyed myself.... First, I was in jail because my mom was suspicious about my behaviour, and I always talked back. So, she wanted to check, and she told the police to take me. They checked my urine and took me to the drug rehabilitation centre.” (No. 5, Malay, married at 17 years old.)

I... always went out; I was naughty. Followed my friends, drank alcohol... I got into a fight with my grandmother, and I ran away.” (No. 6, Malay, married at 17 years old.)

“I had many friends who were tomboys, many of them. So, my father, when he found out that I was friends with them, because the majority of them drank alcohol and everything, so he was worried that I would drop out of school because of them. When we’re friends with someone, we tend to do what they do. So, my father found... a Nospen pill (a type of drug) in my pocket, but it was not mine.” (No. 22, Malay, married at 17 years old.)

(No relevant quotes.)

(No relevant quotes.)