Addressing Child Marriage in Northern Nigeria
Council researchers conducted a survey and intervention designed to address issues surrounding child marriage in Nigeria.
In northern Nigeria, 45 percent of girls are married by age 15, and 73 percent are married by age 18. To understand more about child marriage in this region and learn about the experience from girls themselves, Council researchers performed secondary data analysis of a nationally representative survey (the Demographic and Health Survey) and conducted in-depth interviews with girls and young women in the region.
This research revealed that the vast majority of child marriages were arranged by families. The spouses of these child brides were considerably older—husbands were an average of 12 years older than their wives; this age difference increased to 18 years for those in polygynous marriages.
Men made the vast majority of decisions in the household, regarding not only major life issues such as large purchases, but also more mundane matters such as daily purchases and meals. Sexual debut was often unwanted and traumatic for these young brides. One girl recalled:
The first time I had sex with my husband, I felt serious pains and was bleeding. I had to tell my auntie and she gave me some medicine. Then I told her that I will never allow him to do that to me again. My auntie told me that if I stop after the first time, the wound will never heal. At that time my husband was a stubborn man and anytime he came to have sex with me, I just started crying. He would tell me that Allah is blessing and rewarding me so I should not be crying. (14-year-old girl, married at age 13)
The findings from this study have been used to develop an intervention to delay marriage and support girls who are already married. Through collaboration with religious leaders, women’s leaders, and community leaders, the intervention's goals are to raise awareness and promote discussion of child marriage through existing community forums and radio spots. Premarital HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for couples will be promoted through community-level advocates, and couples contemplating marriage will be referred to existing VCT sites.
Banner photo: © Beryl Goldberg
Les programmes de lutte contre le mariage des enfants : cerner le problème (PDF)
Amin,Sajeda
Promouvoir la santé, la sécurité et la productivité transitions vers l'âge adulte Bulletin (N 14)
Publication date: 2011
Programs to address child marriage: Framing the problem (PDF)
Amin,Sajeda
Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief (no. 14)
Publication date: 2011
Supporting married girls: Calling attention to a neglected group (PDF)
Santhya,K.G.; Erulkar,Annabel S.
Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief (no. 3)
Publication date: 2011
Casamento infantil no contexto da epidemia do VIH (PDF)
Bruce,Judith
Promover transições para a idade adulta saudáveis, seguras e produtivas Sumário (N 11)
Publication date: 2007
Child marriage in the context of the HIV epidemic (PDF)
Bruce,Judith
Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief (no. 11)
Publication date: 2007
The experience of married adolescent girls in northern Nigeria (PDF)
Erulkar,Annabel S.; Bello,Mairo
Publication date: 2007
The HIV/AIDS prevention project for vulnerable youth in northern Nigeria: Community advocates training manual (PDF)
Population Council/Abuja; Adolescent Health and Information Projects; Federation of Muslim Women's Associations in Nigeria; Islamic Education Trust
Publication date: 2007
Child marriage briefing: Nigeria (PDF)
Child Marriage Briefings
Publication date: 2005
Trends in the timing of first marriage among men and women in the developing world
Mensch,Barbara S.; Singh,Susheela; Casterline,John B.; Lloyd,Cynthia B.; Behrman,Jere R.; Stromquist,Nelly P.; Cohen,Barney
from The Changing Transitions to Adulthood in Developing Countries: Selected Studies, pp. 118-171
Publication date: 2005
Trends in the timing of first marriage among men and women in the developing world (PDF)
Mensch,Barbara S.; Singh,Susheela; Casterline,John B.
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 202)
Publication date: 2005
Trends in the timing of first marriage among men and women in the developing world [Arabic] (PDF)
Mensch,Barbara S.; Singh,Susheela; Casterline,John B.
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 202)
Publication date: 2005
A world apart: The disadvantage and social isolation of married adolescent girls (PDF)
Haberland,Nicole; Chong,Erica; Bracken,Hillary J.
Brief based on background paper prepared for the WHO/UNFPA/Population Council Technical Consultation on Married Adolescents
Publication date: 2004
A world apart: The disadvantage and social isolation of married adolescent girls [Arabic] (PDF)
Haberland,Nicole; Chong,Erica; Bracken,Hillary J.
Brief based on background paper prepared for the WHO/UNFPA/Population Council Technical Consultation on Married Adolescents
Publication date: 2004
Project Stats
Location: Nigeria
Program(s):
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
Topic(s):
Child marriage
Duration: 11/2005 - 11/2009
Non-Council collaborators:
Adolescent Health and Information Projects
Federation of Muslim Women's Associations of Nigeria
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