“You are a child and this is not your business”: Decision-making on child marriage in Sindh, Pakistan
Outcomes: Child, Early, and Forced Marriage, Sexual and Reproductive Health
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways Child marriage in rural Sindh is sustained by social norms that view girls as financial burdens, expect obedience to parents, restrict girls to domestic roles, and frame early marriage as protection against premarital relationships and threats to family honor. The study argues that lasting change requires engaging parents, empowering youth, and expanding girls’ education and livelihood opportunities to shift these norms.
Objectives To examine how child marriage is perceived by young people and community members in Sindh, Pakistan, and to understand the social and familial decision-making processes that influence marriage timing.
Methods This qualitative study, conducted as part of the Yes I Do program, included 12 focus group discussions, 20 in-depth interviews, and 6 key informant interviews with 119 participants, including youth (15–24 years), parents, community leaders, and service providers. Social norms were explored through discussions of gender roles, parental authority, consent, education, community expectations, and child marriage. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis.
Intervention Details The study was nested within the Yes I Do program, which combined school-based activities, community dialogues, economic empowerment, and the Kiran peer educator network to raise awareness about sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and child marriage prevention.
Results Although many young people preferred to marry after age 18, child marriage remained common because families viewed it as protection from poverty, sexual harassment, and premarital relationships. Parents, particularly fathers, controlled marriage decisions, while girls had limited agency. Education strengthened young people’s ability to negotiate delayed marriage, and trained Kiran peer educators reported helping prevent or postpone child marriages through community awareness and engagement.
Conclusions Child marriage is driven by intersecting economic pressures and restrictive gender norms. Education, youth empowerment, and community engagement can increase young people’s agency, but reducing child marriage requires broader social norm change that challenges parental authority over marriage decisions and expands opportunities for girls.
Disclaimer: These summaries were generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence and are based on the interpretation of source documents. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and clarity, there may be errors or omissions. Users are encouraged to consult the original documents for complete and authoritative information.