Early marriage in northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Early marriages in northern Ethiopia are traditional, parent-centred arrangements between two families and are widely prevalent. The negative consequences of early marriage for young girls include early childbearing and high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality. In northern Ethiopia, the vast majority of people conform to this tradition in order to secure their own and their children's futures, raise their family's status, avoid stigmatisation, and prevent the disgrace of premarital sex. Yet many people no longer agree with the custom. This paper suggests ways in which early marriage can be discouraged through community-based interventions. © 1994.