How Child Marriage Causes Damage to Her Health?
October 27, 2023 | by Yashaswi Pathakamuri | Posted in FAQ's
Child marriage can have significant adverse effects on the health and well-being of girls and young women. These effects can be both immediate and long-term, and they impact physical, mental, and social aspects of their health. Here are some ways in which child marriage can damage a girl’s health:
- Early Pregnancy and Childbirth Complications: Child brides are at a higher risk of early and unplanned pregnancies. Their bodies may not be fully developed for childbirth, which can lead to a higher risk of complications, including obstructed labor, fistulas, and maternal mortality. Babies born to child brides are also at a greater risk of health problems and mortality.
- Maternal Mortality: Child brides often lack access to proper healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth, which can increase the risk of maternal mortality.
- Limited Access to Education and Employment: Child marriage often results in girls dropping out of school, limiting their access to education and economic opportunities. This can lead to poor health outcomes, as education and employment are associated with better health and well-being.
- Increased Risk of Gender-Based Violence: Child brides are more vulnerable to domestic and gender-based violence, which can have profound physical and psychological health effects.
- Mental Health Issues: Child marriage can result in increased stress, depression, and anxiety for girls, as they are often forced into adult roles and responsibilities at a very young age.
- Social Isolation: Child brides may be socially isolated from their peers, which can impact their mental and emotional health.
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues: Child brides may lack knowledge about sexual and reproductive health, increasing their risk of sexually transmitted infections and complications related to early childbirth.
- Limited Decision-Making Power: In child marriages, girls often have little say in decisions related to their own health, leading to inadequate access to healthcare and limited control over their reproductive rights.
- Malnutrition: Child brides may experience higher levels of malnutrition due to early pregnancy and increased nutritional demands, which can have long-term health consequences.
- Intersecting Inequities: In many cases, child marriage occurs within communities already experiencing poverty, discrimination, and limited access to healthcare and education, compounding the negative health impacts.
Efforts to address child marriage involve promoting awareness, policy changes, and gender equality initiatives. It’s crucial to support the rights and well-being of girls and young women to ensure they have access to education, healthcare, and the opportunity to make informed decisions about their lives and reproductive health. Ending child marriage is an important step toward improving the health and future prospects of girls and young women worldwide.