Trends in child marriage and new evidence on the selective impact of changes in age-at-marriage laws on early marriage

Abstract

This study adopts a cohort perspective to explore trends in child marriage – defined as the proportion of girls who entered first union before the age of 18 – and the effectiveness of policy changes aimed at curbing child marriage by increasing the minimum legal age of marriage. We adopt a cross-national perspective comparing six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that introduced changes in the minimum age at marriage over the past two decades. These countries belong to three broad regions: Sub-Saharan Africa (Benin, Mauritania), Central Asia (Tajikistan, Kazakhstan), and South Asia (Nepal, Bhutan). We combine individual-level data from Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys with longitudinal information on policy changes from the PROSPERED (Policy-Relevant Observational Studies for Population Health Equity and Responsible Development) project. We adopt data visualization techniques and a regression discontinuity design to obtain estimates of the effect of changes in age-at-marriage laws on early marriage. Our results suggest that changes in minimum-age-at-marriage laws were not effective in curbing early marriage in Benin, Mauritania, Kazakhstan, and Bhutan, where child marriage showed little evidence of decline across cohorts. Significant reductions in early marriage following law implementations were observed in Tajikistan and Nepal, yet their effectiveness depended on the model specification and window adopted, thus making them hardly effective as policies to shape girls' later life trajectories. Our findings align with existing evidence from other countries suggesting that changes in age-at-marriage laws rarely achieve the desired outcome. In order for changes in laws to be effective, better laws must be accompanied by better enforcement and monitoring to delay marriage and protect the rights of women and girls. Alternative policies need to be devised to ensure that girls’ later-life outcomes, including their participation in higher education and society, are ensured, encouraged, and protected.

Systematic scoping review of interventions to prevent and respond to child marriage across Africa: progress, gaps and priorities

“…Without effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, age-at-marriage laws may have a limited impact on delaying marriage age among girls. 11 Research from Malawi and Nigeria identified the absence of monitoring systems, the lack of efforts to disseminate treaty-monitoring-body recommendations to institutions and individuals who could play a role and insufficient clarity on who is responsible for coordinating implementation. 12 13 Another study in Malawi highlighted the promise of chiefs as cultural intermediaries in child marriage reform, implementing culturally embedded policy change by mobilising democratic and non-democratic powers.…”

Reception of Marriage Age Limit in Marriage Law in Indonesia

“…Alternative policies must ensure that girls' future life outcomes, including their participation in higher education and society, are encouraged and protected. 50 In Amhara (Ethiopia), awareness of marriage law enforcement is positively related to supporting girls' rights to choose their age and partner. 51 The role of mass media and social communication can suppress the high rate of child marriage.…”

Improving the Well-Being of Adolescent Girls in Developing Countries

“…She finds that the law reduced adolescent births, child marriage, and sexual debut by age 18 for exposed cohorts of females aged 15-18. Batyra and Pesando (2021) examine laws in six countries and conclude that they are not effective in curbing child marriages. 22 Amirapu et al (2020) find that when parents, especially fathers or elders, were informed of the tougher new minimum age laws in Bangladesh, adolescent marriages increased in the short-term.…”