Factors Affecting Early Marriage and its Health Consequences in Women under 18 in Migrant City: A Mixed Research

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

3 MD, Department of Pediatrics, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

4 Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Marriage at a young age, especially when a person has not yet reached the necessary psychological and social maturity, can cause serious harm to the individual, family, and even society.
Aim: The aim of determining the factors affecting early marriage and its health consequences in women under 18 in Migrant City.
Method: The research design was mixed method, including a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study and then a qualitative study that was conducted on migrant women under 18. The sampling method was a census. In the cross-sectional study, 133 women and in the qualitative study, 36 women were studied. The data collection tool in the cross-sectional study was a researcher-made questionnaire and in the qualitative study was interview. In the cross-sectional study, the Chi-square test and in the qualitative study, content analysis was used.
Results: The results showed that the marriage age of most women was 13 to 14 years old. It has been reported that the age of women's first menstruation was 12 years old (28.6%). There was a statistically significant relationship between mother's occupation, father's occupation, parents' monthly income and the age of first menstruation with the age of marriage. A qualitative study about the problems of early marriage included four main themes: physical problems, mental-psychological problems, developmental and developmental problems, and social problems following early marriage.
Conclusions: The results of this research provide a more detailed insight into the phenomenon of child marriage and can be used for interventions related to early marriage, especially in the growing immigrant population.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Qualitative Research in Behavioral Sciences (QRBS)
Volume 2, Issue 2 - Serial Number 4
September 2023
Pages 15-26

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History

  • Receive Date: 17 June 2023
  • Revise Date: 02 January 2024
  • Accept Date: 21 February 2024

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