Table 4 Determinants of child marriage in the social ecological framework
From: Prevalence and factors associated with child marriage, a systematic review
Summary of Findings | Determinants | Social Ecological Level |
|---|---|---|
Girls with lower levels of education are more vulnerable to early marriage | Education of Respondents | Individual level |
Girls who do not work are often married at a young age | Respondent's Job | |
Participants' awareness and literacy levels regarding the consequences of early marriage, pregnancy, and the legal age are related to early marriage. Awareness of these factors can be associated with a reduction in early marriage | Knowledge | |
Girls who have their first sexual experience before the age of 17 are more likely to marry at a young age | Age of first sex | |
Men with low levels of education are more likely to marry underage girls | Husband's education | Relationship level |
Men who worked as farmers and laborers were more likely to marry young girls compared to men in other occupations | Husband job | |
Parents with low education often see their daughters marrying at a young age | Parental education | |
Child marriage was more common among parents who were farmers or had jobs that required little skill | Parent's occupation | |
Child marriage is more common in large families with more than four children | Family size | |
Child marriage is more common in nuclear and extended families | Family type | |
Young girls often lack the authority to make decisions regarding their own marriage, as it is typically determined by their families | Parental decision making | |
Younger girls are more likely to marry their relatives | Consanguineous marriage | |
Low socio-economic status encompasses factors such as family income, social class, wealth index, and overall socio-economic status. If a family has a low socio-economic status, the likelihood of early marriage increases | Socio-economic status | Community level |
Girls marry more frequently in rural areas | Residence | |
The division of regions in a country can affect child marriage, for example, the north and south. Child marriage is more prevalent in underdeveloped regions | Region | |
Child marriage is more common among Kurdish, Arab, Gurma, Agew, Sundanese, Foreign/Non-Congolese, and Cuvette Central ethnicities | Ethnicity | |
Girls who lack access to media are more likely to marry at a young age compared to girls who have access to media | Access to Media | |
Child marriage is most prevalent among Muslims. This practice is also observed among Hindus, Orthodox, Protestant and non-religion | Religion | Societal level |