Change and Continuity in Early Marriage Across Three Generations among Selected Rural Communities in North Mecha Woreda, Amhara Region
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Date
2024-06-01
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Addis Ababa university
Abstract
The overall objective of this study was to investigate change and continuity in early marriage across
three generations (grandmothers, mothers and daughters’ generations) among Bachema and Kurtbahir
Rural communities in North Mecha Woreda, Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia. More specifically, this
study is aimed at: (1) exploring change in early marriage across three generations among the study
communities by focusing on change in age at first marriage and its arrangement processes across three
generations and reasons for such changes during the daughters’ generation among the study communities;
and (2) investigating continuity in early marriage arrangement processes across three generations by
further exploring factors contributing to the continuation of the practice of early marriage and its
arrangement processes during the daughters’ generation among the study communities. To attain these
objectives, primary data were gathered through a combination of ethnographic research methods
involving in-depth interviews with extended cases studies across the three generations, focus group
discussions, systematic observations, and key informant interviews. Secondary data were collected
through review of related literature and relevant documents. The collected data were thematically
organized and analyzed through triangulation of findings from different sources. The study found that the
age at first marriage as well as the age at first childbirth has increased in the daughters’ generation due
to several factors, of which the expansion of formal education and the increase in parents’ awareness
about the health impacts (mainly fistula) of marrying their daughters at an early age are mentioned by
the study participants as the major factors accounted for such change. The study also identified reasons
for the continuity of the practice of early marriage during the daughters’ generation in both study
communities for the past five years. Children's lack of interest in formal education, newly emerging love
based marriages, parents’ desire to protect their daughters from premarital sex/pregnancy and family
honor, life insecurity, and lack of government control and weak law enforcement are the major reasons
for the persistence of the practice of early marriage during the daughters’ generation for the past five
years, especially since the COVID-19 outbreak. Finally, the study concludes by suggesting possible areas
for future research based on the implications of the major findings of the study.
Key words: Early Marriage, Change and Continuity, Across Generations, Rural Communities, North
Mecha Woreda
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Keywords
Early Marriage, Change and Continuity, Across Generations, Rural Communities, North Mecha Woreda