“He is suitable for her, of course he is our relative”: a qualitative exploration of the drivers and implications of child marriage in Gezira State
Outcomes: Child, Early, and Forced Marriage
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways Child marriage in this context is upheld by deeply rooted beliefs about gender, honour, and religion. Real change will require engaging religious leaders, men, and entire communities to challenge the idea that girls’ futures are determined by others. Programs must prioritize girls’ voices and promote their right to make informed choices about if, when, and whom to marry.
Objectives This study explored the social, cultural, and structural drivers of child marriage in rural Gezira State, Sudan. It focused on how gender norms, religious values, family expectations, and access to education shape decisions around early marriage and influence adolescent girls’ autonomy and well-being.
Methods Researchers conducted qualitative research using 14 focus group discussions, 23 key informant interviews, and 11 case studies of child marriage, involving 46 in-depth interviews. Participants included adolescent girls married before age 18, their families, husbands, and influential community members such as imams and teachers. Thematic analysis was used to uncover patterns in norms, beliefs, and decision-making processes.
Results Child marriage in Gezira is driven by intersecting factors: strong gender norms that define girls’ roles as wives and mothers; religious values emphasizing marriage as a moral duty; limited access to education; and a cultural preference for marriage within kinship networks. A proposal from a close relative often triggers early marriage, especially when girls’ voices are excluded from the decision. Girls were frequently consulted only after decisions had been made by male relatives, and silence was taken as consent. Education is valued but primarily as a way to enhance girls’ roles as wives, not to support their independence. Families often remove girls from school due to fears of reputational harm or lack of nearby secondary schools. Contraception and family planning are discouraged, limiting girls’ reproductive agency. Many girls experience early and repeated pregnancies with little access to health services.
Conclusions Ending child marriage in Sudan requires more than legal reform or expanding education alone. Holistic, multisectoral strategies are needed that simultaneously address harmful gender norms, strengthen girls’ rights and decision-making power, and create alternative life paths through education, health services, and livelihoods.
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