Introduction Child Marriage refers to any marriage of a child younger than eighteen years old, in accordance to article 1 of the Convention of the Right of the child. United Nations Efforts and National Laws. Maternal health. Methods: This review was conducted by … times more likely to die in childbirth than girls in their 20s. Take our short quiz and find out! The death rate, morbidity, and stillbirth is 50% higher in mothers under the age of 20 in women who give birth later” (Girls Not Brides, 2). Emerg Infect Dis. Child marriage is driven by poverty and has many effects on girl’s health such as increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STD), cervical cancer, death during childbirth, and obstetric fistulas. or his family) and removes a girl’s decision-making abilities when it comes to Early marriage and childbearing: risks and consequences. Globally, girls who marry before age 18 are 50 percent more likely to face physical or sexual violence from a partner throughout the course of their life. Systems that undervalue the contribution and participation of girls and women limit their own possibilities for growth, stability and transformation. seconds. Child Marriage and HEALTH Child marriage means early sexual activity and, in most cases, early childbearing. Child marriage is driven by poverty and has many effects on girls' health: increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases, cervical cancer, malaria, death during childbirth, and obstetric fistulas. for their daughters by marrying them off early, believing that their new we can support girls in becoming empowered, confident women who decide their A girl may be married because her family cannot afford to pay her school fees, or for basic supplies such as sanitary pads. early and forced marriage is a In addition to the physical danger this presents to women and girls, violence can also have lasting psychological implications on girls’ and women’s mental health. Moreover, in some countries, such as Sierra Leone and Tanzania, pregnant girls may be prohibited from attending school as a result of discriminatory government policies. See 4 of the major health consequences of child marriage. marriage can increase the risk of girls becoming infected with HIV. Of the 16 million adolescent girls who give birth every year, about 90% are already married. In low- and middle-income countries, babies born to mothers under 20 years of age also face higher risks of low birthweight, preterm delivery, and severe neonatal conditions. Plan International Canada is a member of a global organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and equality for girls. [5] Girls who marry before 18 are also more likely to describe their first sexual experience as forced. As a result, child husbands will provide safety and economic security. In addition, girls who marry young often live in rural or remote communities with limited access to sexual and reproductive health education, including access to contraceptives. Girls who marry young are at a higher risk of dying during childbirth, having their child die before its first birthday, contracting AIDS and becoming a victim of domestic violence. the vast majority of child marriages are younger girls to older men. Child marriage continues to be highly prevalent in Africa, where almost 40% of girls are married before age 18 [].Research has consistently documented the adverse economic, social, demographic and reproductive health consequences of child marriage for child brides, their families and their communities [1,2,3,4,5,6,7].Marriage can lead to unique changes in the life of an adolescent girl … in pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death in girls aged 15-19 globally, Africa, the connection between HIV/AIDS and child marriage is of particular Key words: Child marriage, Culture, Health, Kenya 1. 90 percent of girls age 15-19 who give birth are already married, underscoring the role of child marriage in perpetuating this crisis in women’s health. Does child marriage make it more likely that a girl or woman will live in poverty? And, among the 1.16 million new infections in Africa in 2016, more than Poverty is a major force behind child marriage around the world. Think you have a good understanding of child marriage? When a girl is married at an early age, her than two-thirds of those infected with HIV – 25.2 million – live south of the before the age of 15 are almost 50% more Additional barriers preventing young girls from accessing medical care also prevent young girls from receiving adequate care and medical advice throughout their pregnancy. to have numerous sexual partners, which can also increase risk, especially in