HEALTH IMPLICATION OF CHILD MARRIAGE IN NORTH-EAST NIGERIA
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Analele Universităţii din Oradea, Seria Geografie
Abstract
Description
Marriage at its right time and with the right and self-selected person is one of the
best things that can happen to a man. Unfortunately, as glamorous such a day of espousal
would have been, child marriage has made it sour for child brides as most of them are forced
into it, particularly in their mid-teens; thereby aborting beautiful and achievable life goals and
future ambitions. This paper examines the factors inducing child marriage in the most
endemic location in the country North-Eastern Nigeria and the health implications on victims.
Primary data i.e. questionnaire andsecondary data from Nigerian Demographic and Health
Survey (NDHS, 2008) were used. A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was also held with a
group of child wives, all of who are less than 18 years. Results show that povertyand limited
educational attainment are the two main cause of child marriage in the study resulting to
different health problems. Recommendations were made to curb this infamous practice in
Northeastern Nigeria as is a globally acceptable fact that delaying marriage until a lady is
physically and physiologically mature improves her health.
Keywords
GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography, GT Manners and customs