Beyond the statistic: exploring the process of early marriage decision-making using qualitative findings from Ethiopia and India

Key Social Norms Take Aways
Social norms around marriage readiness based on physical maturity rather than age, limited roles for unmarried girls, and pressure from elders and peers sustain early marriage in Ethiopia and India. Legal deterrents are often ineffective compared to strong social sanctions. Girls’ voice and agency are constrained, especially in socially vulnerable contexts. The negotiation stage of early marriage decision-making presents the greatest opportunity for disrupting these norms, particularly through the involvement of external influencers such as teachers and program staff.

Objectives
The study aimed to understand how early marriage decisions are made by examining the roles of girls and key influencers across different stages of the decision-making process. It also explored how empowerment and resilience intersect with social norms to influence outcomes.

Methods
This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with 91 girls (aged 13–23) and 114 marital decision-makers in Ethiopia and India. Participants were selected from early marriage prevention programs. Data were analyzed using latent content analysis and framed through psychological empowerment and resiliency theory.

Intervention Details
Two interventions were examined: the Oromia Development Association (ODA) in Ethiopia, a school-based program supporting SRH education and vocational training; and Project RISHTA in India, a community-based initiative engaging youth through peer educators and trusted adults to delay early marriage.

Results
Early marriage decisions followed a three-stage process: initiation (often external to the girl), negotiation (where girls had more influence), and final decision-making (typically by fathers). Girls had limited involvement in family-initiated proposals but more say in groom-initiated ones. Resistance to early marriage was most effective when supported by fathers or program staff. Girls from socially or economically vulnerable households, particularly those without a male caregiver, had less ability to resist early marriage.

Conclusions
Early marriage should be understood as a process shaped by social norms and multiple decision-makers. Empowering girls is crucial but insufficient without addressing structural barriers and involving families and communities. Prevention programs must be sustained and responsive, particularly during the negotiation phase, to offer meaningful alternatives to early marriage.