TITLE:
Early Marriage in Girls 12 - 18 Years: Frequency and Predisposing Factors in the City of Kabinda, Province Lomani/DRC Congo
AUTHORS:
Adeline Kasanj Kalum, Daniel Kitambo Kabiengele, Dieudonne Lumanu Mposhi, Regine Nkusu Kalenga, Bertin Mpaka Mpaka, Mediatrice Kasheta Mabondo, Kalala Odia, Ennock Mbuyi Kabeya, Valentin Kabambi Bukasa, Emmanuel Mpetemba Mubala, Jean Christophe Bukasa Tshilonda
KEYWORDS:
Early Marriage, Frequency, Factors Favoring Teenager
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.6 No.6,
June
28,
2019
ABSTRACT: Introduction: To determine the frequency and risk factors of early marriage among girls 12 - 18 years in the city of KABINDA. Material and methods: This study is descriptive cross. It was conducted in 5304 households in two Kamukungu health areas and Kilo located KAMUKUNGU neighborhood. The sample consisted of 1227 women of childbearing age, married at an early stage that had been subjected to a questionnaire that was used as data collection tool. Results: The early marriage rate among girls 12 - 18 years is 23.1%. Factors encouraging this early marriage are poverty (continued to unemployed parents, resourceful and load carriers) (33.9%), culture and custom (31.4%), family and social pressure (17.9%) and non-use of contraceptive methods (17.2%). Conclusion: Early marriage in our communities is an all too common phenomenon in the DRC in general and particularly in the province of South Kivu, or one in four women currently aged 40 - 45 had married before the age of 18. This is also the situation in the province of Lomani and precisely in the city of KABINDA. To do this, it would popularize laws and legal texts on the protection of children especially in education, and marriage continues to raise awareness of the city of KABINDA and prevent child marriage by bringing to 18, the minimum age for marriage and support oriented programs to protect and promote the rights of adolescent girls.