Child Brides in Africa
By Alaina Vest
Most girls grow up dreaming of being a bride one day.
But for girls in Africa, becoming a bride often comes too soon and marks the end of their innocent childhood, education, and dreams.
Photo by Shelagh Murphy: https://www.pexels.com/photo/group-photo-of-a-children-2883380/In the United States, the average age of marriage for women is around 28 years old (U.S. Census Bureau 2022). In Africa, that average age is 18 years old, and within different countries of Africa, there are staggering percentages of girls that are married before 18. For example, in Niger 77% of girls are married before they are 18 years old. In the Central African Republic and Chad, this percentage is 60% (UNICEF, Ending Child Marriage: Progress and Prospects, 2014). One can see that the name “Child Bride” is not an exaggeration in Africa.
Why So Common?
Early marriage is more prevalent in Africa due largely to the amount of widespread poverty. Many families are too poor to feed all their children or send them to school, especially girls. Marriage becomes a way of survival where these young brides’ needs are met, and oftentimes, the groom will pay a dowry or cash to the family. Thus, incentives are given to families and girls to get married young.
Impact of Child Brides
So what’s wrong with getting married a little young? There are lessons to be learned and growth that happens from marriage and starting a family. However, young marriages have many severe detrimental effects.
Higher reports of domestic violence and abuse:
The bigger the age gap increases, the more domestic violence risk increases, and because most of these girls are younger and have dropped out of school, they are taken advantage of more as opposed to older, more educated women(World Health Organization Study 2005).
Early marriage leads to earlier pregnancies, and as a result, death rates increase along with other health risks. Because girls' bodies are less developed, they are 5 times more likely to die during delivery than mothers aged 20-24 years old(World Health Organization 2011).
Another negative impact is that girls’ education is halted. Here at African Girls Hope Foundation, we know the opportunities, confidence, and power that can come from education.
In an interview done with Human Rights Watch in 2012, Anyier D., 18, said that she was forced to drop out of school and marry young
“I would wish to return to school even if I have children. People think that I am happy but I am not because I don’t have an education. I don’t have something of my own and I am only cleaning offices. If I had gone to secondary school, I would get a good job.”
Girls in Africa, young and old
These are just a few of the effects of early childhood marriages. It affects girls’ and women’s health emotionally, mentally, and physically. This limits their potential, future, and rights of receiving equity and justice.
Christina Asima says she had no choice but to marry last year at age 12 to help care for younger siblings after her mother abandoned the family. But she says her husband was abusive, so she left him, and now must look after her 8-month-old son, Praise, alone. (https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2013/12/01/247843225/5-things-you-may-not-know-about-child-marriage )
What we can do:
There isn’t a simple one-time fix for an issue like this. However, there are certain things we can do that will chip away at this issue.
What is AGHF doing?
At African Girls Hope Foundation, we are committed to being part of the solution. Providing education and resources like adult mentors gives girls the hope and opportunities they need to succeed long-term. Having supportive adults who encourage and guide them gives the girls the confidence they need to make good choices and keeps them accountable. Receiving an education also helps girls learn lifeskills, have many career opportunities, and distances them from being in situations where child marriage is more likely.
Back to School Event for African Girls Hope Foundation - keeping girls in school!
We Can Stop This Together
If you’ve been reading this and have felt empathy in any way for the “Child Brides” we’d love for you to donate to our cause. We are working to provide all that an education requires: uniforms, school supplies, school fees, and mentors who can help encourage and direct girls in their educational pursuits.
As Vincent Van Gogh once said,
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”
Whatever you can give does make a difference. You are not only helping end the normality of “child brides” but also providing a bright future where girls can choose and create their own future. You’re making dreams come true.
Back to School Event with girls on scholarship from AGHF