They found that those with more marital concerns reported greater stress throughout the day, had higher blood pressure in the middle of the workday and higher morning cortisol levels. These factors can, over time, combine to increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, depression , heart attack and stroke, the study said.
Causes of child marriages include poverty, bride price, dowry, cultural traditions, religious and social pressures, regional customs, fear of the child remaining unmarried into adulthood, illiteracy, and perceived inability of women to work for money.
A commonly accepted and encompassing definition of marriage is the following: a formal union and social and legal contract between two individuals that unites their lives legally, economically, and emotionally. Being married also gives legitimacy to sexual relations within the marriage.
Solutions to End Child Marriage
- Empower girls with information, skills and support networks.
- Provide economic support and incentives to girls and their families.
- Educate and rally parents and community members.
- Enhance girls' access to a high-quality education.
- Encourage supportive laws and policies.
In Zambia, the Marriage Act sets the legal minimum age of marriage at 21 years. However, a child can marry from the age of 16 with written consent from their legal guardian.
There is no minimum age of consent to marry under Zambian customary law as current customary practice allows any girl who attains puberty to get married. 17.
In Lusaka, the major causes of divorce included lack of proper marriage counselling, interference from friends and family members as well as poor communication among couples. On the Copperbelt, the major causes of divorce included adultery and desertion.
“The ideal age to get married, with the least likelihood of divorce in the first five years, is 28 to 32,” says Carrie Krawiec, a marriage and family therapist at Birmingham Maple Clinic in Troy, Michigan. “Called the 'Goldilocks theory,' the idea is that people at this age are not too old and not too young.”
According to the Zambian law, a minor is one below the age of 19. Zambia has a dual legal system consisting of traditional and statutory law, which impedes implementation of the convention on the rights of the child because what one system views as illegal the other views as legal.
According to a 2003 survey, 16% of marriages in Zambia are polygamous. It is a criminal offense (bigamy) for a person married under the Act to undergo a marriage ceremony whilst legally married to another person. Customary law marriages are potentially polygamous.
Background. Child marriage (or early marriage) can be defined as “both formal marriages and informal unions in which a girl lives with a partner as if married before the age of 18” [1]. Child marriage, despite recent declines is still widely practiced in many parts of the developing world [2, 3].
In Zambia, childbearing starts early and teenage pregnancy is common, particularly in rural areas. According to the latest Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of 2013/14, one third of Zambian women have given birth by the age of 18 and more than half by the age of 20 [29].
At a national level, child marriage contributes to population growth by increasing fertility. The report estimates that a girl marrying at 13 will have on average 26% more children over her lifetime than if she had married at 18 or later. This has a national impact by placing an increased burden on basic services.
Child Marriage Restraint Act
| Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 |
|---|
| Territorial extent | Whole of India |
| Enacted by | Imperial Legislative Council |
| Enacted | 28 September 1929 |
| Commenced | 29 September 1929 |
Advantages of Early Marriage
- Have time before planning kids. When couples marry young, they need not rush into things which includes having a baby.
- Cool Young Parents.
- Financial stability.
- Being Considerate and Having Patience.
- Being responsible individuals.
- Less to No Baggage in life.
- Sexual life.
- Religious Reasons.
What impact does child marriage have on girls' health? Child marriage is a significant health risk for women and girls. Psychologically, women married as children are more likely to suffer from symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and symptoms of depression.
Risks. One serious consequence of forced marriage is the increased likelihood of domestic violence and abuse and sexual abuse. Anyone forced into marriage faces an increased risk of rape and sexual abuse as they may not wish to consent, or may not be the legal age to consent to a sexual relationship.
Niger has the highest overall prevalence of child marriage in the world. However, Bangladesh has the highest rate of marriage involving girls under age 15. South Asia is home to almost half (42 per cent) of all child brides worldwide; India alone accounts for one third of the global total.
—Whoever, being a male adult above eighteen years of age, contracts a child marriage shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or with both.
Child marriage is currently legal in 44 states (only Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island have set the minimum age at 18 and eliminated all exceptions), and 20 U.S. states do not require any minimum age for marriage, with a parental or judicial waiver.
Monogamy, the union between two individuals, is the most common form of marriage.
