Traditional and Religious Leaders Knowledge of Medical and Health Consequences of Early Marriage in Sokoto State Nigeria
Abstract
Traditional and religious leaders play a key role in addressing many vital social problems including girl child marriage. A girl child marriage is a marriage conducted before the age of 18. This study identifies traditional and religious leader’s knowledge of medical and health consequences of early marriage in Sokoto state, Nigeria. The study is purely qualitative and employed In Depth Interview (IDI) to interrogate traditional and religious leader’s knowledge on medical and health implication of girl child marriage. Interviews were conducted with a total of 48 respondents made up of 18 religious leaders and 30 traditional leaders. The study found out that early marriage has both medical and health consequences to girl child. The study recommend that there is a need to develop methods to protect girls at risk of child marriage and to address the concerns of girls and women who are already married by ensuring the fulfillment of their right to a full education and providing that with life skills based training to ensure that they can earn a livelihood.
References
1. African Population Conference (2007): The Causes and Consequences of Early Marriage in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Sourced from
uaps2007.princeton/.edu/papers/70517
2. Bach, C. A. (1957): Survey of African Marriage and Family Life. London. Oxford University Press
3. Bhattacharya, G. (2004): Socio-cultural and Behavioral Context in Heterosexual Married Couples in India: Challenges to HIV Prevention Programmes; In Health Education and Behaviour, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp 101-117
4. Barret, S. R. (1984) The Rebirth of Anthropological Theory, Toronto, University of Toronto Presss.
5. Colson, E. (1967) The Intensive Study of Small Sample Communities in E. L. Epstein (ed.) The Craft of Social Anthrap.
6. Forward.Com (2013): Child Marriage. Retrieved from
www.formarduk./keyissues/child-marriage.
7. Hammersley, M.. (1989) The Dilemma of Qualitative Method, Routledge.
8. Iyabode, O. (2010): Child Bride and Child Sex: Combating Child Marriages in Nigeria. Sourced from
www.ajol.info/index.php/naujilj/article/download/82389/72544
9. Jenson, R. and Thornton, R. (2003): Early Female Marriage in the Developing World; In Gender and Development, Vol. II, No. 2, pp 9-19
10. Obikeze, D. S. (1990) Methods of Duta Analysis in the Social and Behavioural Sciences, Enugu: Auto-Century Publishing Co. Ltd.
11. Shehu, D. J. (1992) “Socio-Cultural Factors in the Causation of Maternal Mortality and Morbidity in Sokoto,”in M. N. Kesseka (ed.) ‘Women’s Health Issues in Nigeria, Tamaza Publishing Co. Ltd
12. Shehu, D. J. (1999) “Upgrading Community Awareness of Obstetric Complications in North Western Nigeria” in Journal of Reproductive Health Matters, August-Dec.
13. Khalid, S. and Zango, I. M. (1995) “Access to Reproductive health Services in Nigeria: A Study of Vesico-Vaginal Fistulae (VVF) in Kano”, paper presented at the National Conference on Population and Development in Africa: Plan of Action, organized by Population Association of Nigeria, Benin City, 4th-5th May.
14. Khalid, S. and Zango, I. M. (1996) “The Reasons for the Incidence of Vesico Vaginal Fistulae (VVF) in Kano”, Journal of Social and Management Studies, Vol. 3.
15. Ma’aji, N, I. (Undated): Between Early Marriage and Adolescent Girls in Northern Nigeria. Retrieved from: www.gamji.com/article600/NEWS7738.htm
16. Malhotra, A. (2010): The Causes, Consequences and Solutions to Forced Child Marriage in the Developing World: Testimony Submitted to the US House of Representatives Human Rights Commission, Washington DC. International Centre for Research on Women. Sourced from:
www.icrw.org/files/images/-7-15-2010/pdf
17. Nwokolo, C. (2010): Counseling Against Early Marriage of the Girl Child in Anambra State; In Edo Journal of Counseling. Vol. 3, No. 1, pp 56
18. N. P. C. (2006) National Population Commission Census News Vol. 3.1
19. Otoo-Oryortey, N. and Pobi, S. (2003): Early Marriage and Poverty: Exploring Links and Key Policy Issues; In Gender and Development. Vol. II, No. 2, pp 42-51
20. Pathfinder International (2006): Report on Causes and Consequences of Early Marriage in Amhara Region, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Sourced from www.pathfinder.org/publications-tools/pdfs/pdf
21. Population Council (2012): Child Marriage: Overview. Retrieved from
http//www.popcouncil.org/topics/youth_child_marriage.asp
22. Ruba, H. (undated) Benefits of early marriage and its Islamic view. Retrieved from:
http://hakeem- ruba.com/benefits-of-early-marriage.html. Sourced on 12/07/2013
23. Sharpe, S. (1976): Just Like a Girl: Girls learn to be Women. Penguin Books. Harmondsworths
24. UNFPA (2004): Child Marriage Advocacy Programme: Fact Sheet on Child Marriage and Early Union. Sourced from (2005): Child Marriage Facts Sheet. Sourced from www.unfpa.org/protection/files/child_marriage.pdf
25. The Forum on Marriage and the Rights of Women and Girls (2003): Early Marriage and Poverty: Exploring Links for Policy and Programme Development.
26. UNICEF (2001): Early Marriage: Child Spouses; In Innocenti Digest, No. 7. UNICEF: Innocenti Research Centre
27. _______ (2005): Early Marriage: A Harmful Traditional Practice – A Statistical Exploration. Sourced from
www.unicef.org/publications/files/Early_marriage 12./o.pdf
28. Westoff, C. (2003): Trends in Marriage and Early Child Bearing in Developing Countries: In DHS Comparative Reports, No. 5, DRC Macro, Calverton, Md, USA
29. Yin, R. K.. (1989) Case Study Research Design and Methods, Sage Publications, London.
30. Zango, I. M. (2001) “Knowledge, Attitude and Practices About Family Planning among the Fulani in Northern Nigeria” in Journal of General Studies, Vol. 4 No. 1
uaps2007.princeton/.edu/papers/70517
2. Bach, C. A. (1957): Survey of African Marriage and Family Life. London. Oxford University Press
3. Bhattacharya, G. (2004): Socio-cultural and Behavioral Context in Heterosexual Married Couples in India: Challenges to HIV Prevention Programmes; In Health Education and Behaviour, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp 101-117
4. Barret, S. R. (1984) The Rebirth of Anthropological Theory, Toronto, University of Toronto Presss.
5. Colson, E. (1967) The Intensive Study of Small Sample Communities in E. L. Epstein (ed.) The Craft of Social Anthrap.
6. Forward.Com (2013): Child Marriage. Retrieved from
www.formarduk./keyissues/child-marriage.
7. Hammersley, M.. (1989) The Dilemma of Qualitative Method, Routledge.
8. Iyabode, O. (2010): Child Bride and Child Sex: Combating Child Marriages in Nigeria. Sourced from
www.ajol.info/index.php/naujilj/article/download/82389/72544
9. Jenson, R. and Thornton, R. (2003): Early Female Marriage in the Developing World; In Gender and Development, Vol. II, No. 2, pp 9-19
10. Obikeze, D. S. (1990) Methods of Duta Analysis in the Social and Behavioural Sciences, Enugu: Auto-Century Publishing Co. Ltd.
11. Shehu, D. J. (1992) “Socio-Cultural Factors in the Causation of Maternal Mortality and Morbidity in Sokoto,”in M. N. Kesseka (ed.) ‘Women’s Health Issues in Nigeria, Tamaza Publishing Co. Ltd
12. Shehu, D. J. (1999) “Upgrading Community Awareness of Obstetric Complications in North Western Nigeria” in Journal of Reproductive Health Matters, August-Dec.
13. Khalid, S. and Zango, I. M. (1995) “Access to Reproductive health Services in Nigeria: A Study of Vesico-Vaginal Fistulae (VVF) in Kano”, paper presented at the National Conference on Population and Development in Africa: Plan of Action, organized by Population Association of Nigeria, Benin City, 4th-5th May.
14. Khalid, S. and Zango, I. M. (1996) “The Reasons for the Incidence of Vesico Vaginal Fistulae (VVF) in Kano”, Journal of Social and Management Studies, Vol. 3.
15. Ma’aji, N, I. (Undated): Between Early Marriage and Adolescent Girls in Northern Nigeria. Retrieved from: www.gamji.com/article600/NEWS7738.htm
16. Malhotra, A. (2010): The Causes, Consequences and Solutions to Forced Child Marriage in the Developing World: Testimony Submitted to the US House of Representatives Human Rights Commission, Washington DC. International Centre for Research on Women. Sourced from:
www.icrw.org/files/images/-7-15-2010/pdf
17. Nwokolo, C. (2010): Counseling Against Early Marriage of the Girl Child in Anambra State; In Edo Journal of Counseling. Vol. 3, No. 1, pp 56
18. N. P. C. (2006) National Population Commission Census News Vol. 3.1
19. Otoo-Oryortey, N. and Pobi, S. (2003): Early Marriage and Poverty: Exploring Links and Key Policy Issues; In Gender and Development. Vol. II, No. 2, pp 42-51
20. Pathfinder International (2006): Report on Causes and Consequences of Early Marriage in Amhara Region, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Sourced from www.pathfinder.org/publications-tools/pdfs/pdf
21. Population Council (2012): Child Marriage: Overview. Retrieved from
http//www.popcouncil.org/topics/youth_child_marriage.asp
22. Ruba, H. (undated) Benefits of early marriage and its Islamic view. Retrieved from:
http://hakeem- ruba.com/benefits-of-early-marriage.html. Sourced on 12/07/2013
23. Sharpe, S. (1976): Just Like a Girl: Girls learn to be Women. Penguin Books. Harmondsworths
24. UNFPA (2004): Child Marriage Advocacy Programme: Fact Sheet on Child Marriage and Early Union. Sourced from (2005): Child Marriage Facts Sheet. Sourced from www.unfpa.org/protection/files/child_marriage.pdf
25. The Forum on Marriage and the Rights of Women and Girls (2003): Early Marriage and Poverty: Exploring Links for Policy and Programme Development.
26. UNICEF (2001): Early Marriage: Child Spouses; In Innocenti Digest, No. 7. UNICEF: Innocenti Research Centre
27. _______ (2005): Early Marriage: A Harmful Traditional Practice – A Statistical Exploration. Sourced from
www.unicef.org/publications/files/Early_marriage 12./o.pdf
28. Westoff, C. (2003): Trends in Marriage and Early Child Bearing in Developing Countries: In DHS Comparative Reports, No. 5, DRC Macro, Calverton, Md, USA
29. Yin, R. K.. (1989) Case Study Research Design and Methods, Sage Publications, London.
30. Zango, I. M. (2001) “Knowledge, Attitude and Practices About Family Planning among the Fulani in Northern Nigeria” in Journal of General Studies, Vol. 4 No. 1
Authors
[1]
“Traditional and Religious Leaders Knowledge of Medical and Health Consequences of Early Marriage in Sokoto State Nigeria”, Soc. sci. humanities j., vol. 8, no. 12, pp. 6271–6276, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.18535/sshj.v8i12.1558.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.