Table 3 Adolescent girls’ viewpoint on the causes of child marriage
From: Knowledge and viewpoint of adolescent girls regarding child marriage, its causes and consequences
Variable | Totally agree | Agree | No opinion | Disagree | Totally disagree |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. The economic poverty of the family is one of the main causes of early marriage. | 15 (5.0) | 92 (30.7) | 86 (28.7) | 36 (12.0) | 71 (23.7) |
2. The family agrees to early marriage because of the reduction of one of its members. | 12 (4.0) | 57 (19.0) | 86 (28.7) | 46 (15.3) | 99 (33.0) |
3. The family agrees to early marriage to receive Mehr (marriage portion). | 5 (1.7) | 35 (11.7) | 105 (35.0) | 53 (17.7) | 102 (34.0) |
4. Early marriage in girls is carried out to control sexual behavior and premarital pregnancy. | 12 (4.0) | 49 (16.3) | 118 (39.3) | 47 (15.7) | 74 (24.7) |
5. Early marriage in girls is due to family problems and conflicts. | 40 (13.3) | 139 (46.3) | 65 (21.7) | 22 (7.3) | 34 (11.3) |
6. Girls undergo early marriage to meet their emotional needs. | 45 (15.0) | 133 (44.3) | 55 (18.3) | 38 (12.7) | 29 (9.7) |
7. Girls undergo early marriage to meet their sexual needs. | 8 (2.7) | 54 (18.0) | 94 (31.3) | 75 (25.0) | 69 (23.0) |
8. Early marriage in girls is due to a lack of educational and occupational opportunities for girls in accordance with their families. | 29 (9.7) | 101 (33.7) | 87 (29.0) | 43 (14.3) | 40 (13.3) |
9. In Iran, early marriage is carried out due to religious beliefs. | 40 (13.3) | 91 (30.3) | 76 (25.3) | 52 (17.3) | 41 (13.7) |
10. In Iran, early marriage is carried out due to cultural and traditional causes. | 52 (17.3) | 91 (30.3) | 87 (29.0) | 44 (14.7) | 26 (8.7) |
11. Lack of intellectual-psychological maturity is the most important cause of early marriage in girls. | 80 (9.6) | 112 (37.3) | 68 (22.7) | 28 (9.3) | 12 (4.0) |
12. Early marriage is more prevalent in larger families. | 36 (12.0) | 117 (39.0) | 79 (26.3) | 48 (16.0) | 20 (6.7) |
13. Early marriage is conducted to continue the previous family and tribal marriage (for instance marrying the cousin, etc.). | 24 (8.0) | 90 (30.0) | 103 (34.3) | 50 (16.7) | 33 (11.0) |
14. Early marriage is carried out to increase the independence and capability of girls in life. | 18 (6.0) | 55 (18.3) | 105 (35.0) | 61 (20.3) | 61 (20.3) |
15. Illiteracy or lack of education of parents are among other causes of early marriage in girls. | 71 (23.7) | 121 (40.3) | 37 (12.3) | 37 (12.3) | 34 (11.3) |
16. Early marriage is more common in families that the parent got married at a younger age. | 40 (13.3) | 86 (28.7) | 92 (30.7) | 55 (18.3) | 27 (9.0) |
17.Lack of exhilaration in daily life, especially in the rural regions and outskirts can result in the increase of child marriage. | 61 (20.3) | 114 (38.0) | 77 (25.7) | 32 (10.7) | 16 (5.3) |
18. Mothers are of the opinion that girls must get married earlier and when they are in their teen years. | 32 (10.7) | 48 (16.0) | 58 (19.4) | 83 (27.7) | 79(26.3) |
19. Girls cannot make decisions about their marriage, pregnancy health and rights, and their gender on account of cultural problems and patriarchal beliefs. | 47 (15.7) | 81 (27.0) | 86 (28.7) | 41 (13.7) | 45 (15.0) |
20. The intellectual, emotional, social, and economic maturity of girls is necessary in additionto their physical puberty. | 230 (76.7) | 47 (15.7) | 19 (6.3) | 2 (0.7) | 2 (0.7) |
21. With increase in the girls’ education, early marriage decreases. | 160 (53.3) | 77 (25.7) | 44 (14.7) | 12 (4.0) | 7 (2.3) |
22. Raising girls’ awareness of the consequences of early marriage in schools and the media is an effective way to reduce early marriage. | 127 (42.3) | 82 (27.3) | 75 (25.0) | 8 (2.7) | 8 (2.7) |