Drivers of child marriage in specific settings of Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia – findings from the Yes I Do! baseline study.
Outcomes: Child, Early, and Forced Marriage, Gender‑Based Violence
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways Child marriage across six countries is not just a standalone practice but a reflection of deeper social norms, especially around girls’ sexuality, family honour, and gender roles. In many cases, marriage is seen as a necessary response to prevent or cover up premarital sex or pregnancy. These norms are reinforced by economic pressures, limited access to education and employment, and weak decision-making power among girls. The study emphasizes that efforts to prevent child marriage must address these intersecting social norms at the individual, family, and community levels and recognize the complexities of girls’ agency in constrained contexts.
Objectives To explore the context-specific drivers of child marriage in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia, and to inform the Yes I Do! program interventions aimed at reducing child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and female genital mutilation/cutting.
Methods A mixed-methods baseline study (2016) combining household surveys with 9,027 youth (ages 15–24), 72 focus group discussions, 124 in-depth interviews, and 26 key informant interviews. Social norms were explored using the theory of the normative spectrum and measured using an adapted child marriage acceptability index developed by Plan International.
Intervention Details The Yes I Do! program (2016–2020), funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, used intergenerational and gender-transformative approaches to prevent child marriage and related practices. It promoted comprehensive sexuality education, access to SRH services, youth empowerment, community engagement, and policy implementation.
Results Findings show that child marriage is driven by a mix of individual, social, economic, and institutional factors. Key drivers include poverty, lack of education, teenage pregnancy, family honour, and gender norms limiting girls’ autonomy. In some settings, child marriage was considered an “appropriate” or “acceptable” practice to avoid social stigma; in others, it was a “possible” practice where girls made constrained choices. Fathers’ education was a protective factor, and family pressure was a strong influence in Ethiopia and Kenya.
Conclusions Child marriage is sustained by intersecting gender norms and structural inequalities. Effective prevention strategies must be context-specific, multi-level, and address both normative and material drivers. Empowering girls, engaging communities, and transforming social expectations are crucial to reducing child marriage.
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