Socio-Cultural Determinants of Child Marriages and Teenage Pregnancies among Adolescent Girls and Young Women: A Case Study of District Sanghar and Karachi

Abstract

Child marriages and early age pregnancy are an alarming issue among adolescent girls and young females in South Asian region. This research was carried out to understand the knowledge, attitude, and practices towards child marriages and early age pregnancies. For this purpose an exploratory research design was employed and data was gathered through using qualitative and quantitative research techniques. The research found that the respondents were lacking authentic knowledge about sexual and reproductive health rights. Most of the respondents were having access to public and private health service providers and this channel can be a source for the quality information about sexual and reproduce health and rights. An integrated approach through combing all the channels and stakeholders of the society can be vital for the desired social change to counter child marriages and early age pregnancies.