Child marriage in Ghana: evidence from a multi-media study
Outcomes: Child, Early, and Forced Marriage, Sexual and Reproductive Health
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways Social norms play a critical role in sustaining child marriage in Ghana. Norms around female sexuality, family honor, and economic survival reinforce early marriage. Practices such as betrothal, exchange of girls, and pressure from elders and peers reflect deeply entrenched beliefs about girls’ roles and value. Interventions must focus on norm transformation—especially through local leaders and tailored advocacy—to dismantle these expectations and empower girls to pursue alternative futures.
Objectives The study aimed to examine the predictors and socio-cultural norms influencing child marriage in Ghana, and to explore how the phenomenon can be effectively addressed.
Methods A mixed-methods approach was employed. Quantitative data were drawn from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS), analyzing a weighted subsample of 1,613 women aged 20–24 to identify predictors of child marriage using logistic regression. Qualitative data were collected through 20 focus group discussions (FGDs) and 30 key informant interviews (KIIs) in selected districts of the Central and Northern regions. Thematic analysis was used to explore the social norms and practices surrounding child marriage.
Results Approximately 21% of women aged 20–24 had married before age 18. Key predictors of early marriage included lack of formal education (OR 3.01), poverty, and certain ethnic and regional backgrounds. Qualitative findings revealed that poverty, teenage pregnancy, traditional practices like betrothal and girl exchange, and social pressures were key drivers of child marriage. Cultural and religious norms that stigmatize premarital sex and elevate a girl’s marital status were also influential. While early marriage was sometimes viewed as a strategy to escape poverty or attain social respect, it was associated with significant adverse outcomes including curtailed education, early pregnancy, and health risks.
Conclusions Child marriage in Ghana is driven by a complex interplay of socio-economic, cultural, and gendered norms. Effective strategies must include promoting girl-child education, enforcing existing laws, addressing teenage pregnancy, providing economic opportunities, and implementing community-based advocacy efforts to shift harmful norms.
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