Child Marriage leading cause of Maternal Mortality By: Rehmat Durrani Child marriage is practiced commonly in many parts of the world. This practice is more common in developing countries, especially in South Asia, where according to UNICEF, 48 per cent (nearly 10 million) of young women are forced into child marriage before the age of 18. Forced marriage usually occurs without the consent of the bride or groom, as the definition accepted by UNICEF for child marriage is “Formal marriage or union before 18 years of age”. According to UN Women “Child marriage is a forced marriage before 18 years of age” as UN-Women believe children under age 18 are incapable of giving their consent. Once Child brides enter into marriage, social and cultural values add pressure to have children as soon as possible to prove their fertility and fertility of the grooms as well. Complications in pregnancy and childbirth, proves to be the leading cause of death in adolescent girls. Child marriage ratio is huge, it is estimated that in between the year 2010-2020, more than 140 million girls will marry as child brides. Around the globe every day more than 25,000 young girls become child brides, joining the grand total of 60 million women who were married as children. Child marriage and maternal mortality are closely linked. Early age marriages have profound effects on health of both adolescent mother and new born. As child brides are married when they are at school going age, they lack any information about their general as well as maternal health. This lack of information, keeps them from planning their family resulting into pregnancies not safe for both mother and child. Complications in pregnancies includes Obstetric Fistula, an injury caused by obstructed labour or prolonged childbirth. It is estimated that 65 percent of cases reported of obstetric fistula occur in girls who are under the age of 18. Pakistan is a part of southern Asia is contributes to the increasing ratio of child marriage. According to estimations, 30 percent of all marriages that occur in Pakistan fall into child marriage category. This practice is more common in interior Sind and Balochistan. Child marriages contributes to and is found to be one of the major cause of high maternal mortality ratio of 272 per 100,000 live births in Pakistan or could be estimated as death of one women in every 20 minutes during delivery. This situation worsens in Balochistan where the ratio reaches up to 272 per 100,000 live births. Child marriage laws are in place in Pakistan, condemning the practice, but alas like most of the laws practical implementations are not witnessed. The law is called Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929, that describes as male not above 18, and female not over 16 as children. Further describing child marriage as an act where either contracting partners is a child. Punishment for crime of child marriage is imprisonment which may extend to one month of with a fine of Rs. 1000 or both. This Act needs to be revised and penalty made severe, is such a way that would help in reduction of child marriage practices.
Posted on: Wed, 07 May 2014 05:08:49 +0000
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