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Effects of early marriages on women

Ayesha, 16 years old from Badin district came to the emergency department in a very critical condition. She was bleeding profusely after giving birth to a premature child. I had never encountered such a nail biting situation. We did our best to save her but unfortunately she died of massive blood loss.

Unfortunately, such cases go unnoticed in many parts of our country, quite frequently. It is a pity situation that young girls are destined to such agony. According to recent statistics taken from the International Center for Research on Women Policy Advisory on Early Child Marriage, “girls aged ten through fourteen are five times more likely to die in pregnancy and child birth than women in their twenties”.

Early marriage, has succeeded in creating controversies in every era and century exclusively . Marriage before the age of 18 is a reality for many young women. In many parts of the world parents encourage the early marriage of their daughters hoping that the marriage will benefit them both financially and socially

Throughout the world the problem of early, forced marriages of children is considered to be violation of basic human rights. Child marriage is a problem worldwide. In developing countries, an estimated 60 million girls under the age of 18 are married, and each day more than 25,000 more join them.

The most significant effect that early child marriage has is on women’s health. Premature and forced intercourse often results in harming their fragile body and mind . In general, sometimes leading to death, as well as short and long term problems related to early pregnancy and delivery.

Prolong and obstructed labour can result in obstetric fistula which subsequently affects the young girls and first time mothers due to their incomplete development. These girls are risk of being infected with sexually transmitted diseases. Thus early pregnancy and childbirth may lead to maternal morbidity and mortality.

Women’s inequity is the second effect of early marriage. “A girl’s place is in the husband’s home” an old Egyptian saying, that unfortunately is still not obsolete. Early marriage limits female educational opportunities by dropping out school early, thereby reducing the employment opportunity and economic independence and depriving our society of intelligence that could come of use in the well being of the entire community as well as to the individual

The victims of early marriage are vulnerable to gender based violence because of age differences between husband and wife. They also face high fertility, marital instability and reproductive health related complication. The women’s lack of decision making in their families and communities is exacerbated to the inherent power imbalance between a young girl and her husband who is often ten years or more her senior.

Many times young women are beaten by their aged husband on minor issues. Such social, emotional and physical torture leads to psychological devastation and marital disharmony and instability. During my clinical experience a similar incident came to my observation. Sakina, 20 years and mother of three children presented with history of suicidal attempt. Upon inquiring, we were informed that she use to get beaten by her husband even on petty issues.

And henceforth, psychological effects are another major consequence of women’s early marriage. Early marriage leads to loss of youthfulness and disturbed personal development. The denial of freedom and forced sexual relation has psychosocial and emotional devastation.

As a nurse I have also seen many of young girls coming to psychiatric service with the complaints of major psychological illnesses and among them depression is a major issue. Marital dissatisfaction and stresses related to family and bringing up children at a very young and immature age are the root causes of such mental illnesses.

The impact can be insidious and the damage hard to assess. Young girls lose their freedom and independence, become confined in walls they cant really call homes. These responsibilities make them despondent and dejected.

There are ways to reduce the practice of child marriage—but too little attention has been given to this widespread problem. Steps are easy and outcomes effective, if tried out One of it is education and awareness which will ultimately prevent these women from complications of early pregnancy and childbirth and also prevent them from psychological problems by giving them equal rights and more over a strict legislation is needed to curb these issues.


By Shairoz Nazar Ali
AKUH, Karachi