What Drives The High Rates Of Early Child Marriages In Uganda?
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Child marriage remains a very serious challenge in Uganda due to biased gender norms, limited schooling opportunities coupled with a poor school environment and high levels of poverty. About one out of every five girls aged 15-19 years in Uganda are in a marital union. Early child marriage has adverse impacts on both the individual and society. It undermines maternal and infant health thus exacerbating maternal mortality rates as a result of increased teenage pregnancies. It also limits income earning potential of the affected girls and the productivity in adulthood—by influencing the nature of jobs females engage in. Ending child marriage is therefore of paramount importance at the individual and economy level. Measures such as strict enforcement of laws protecting the children as well as expanding education opportunities and ensuring a conducive learning environment, advocacy and community sensitisation need to be scaled up.
- Social Sciences