A Quantitative Analysis of Predictors of Child Marriage in Ghana

Background and Purpose: Early marriage has received considerable attention especially in South Asia and Africa. Globally, it is presumed that about 100 million girls will be married before their 18th birthday in the (Nasrulla et al. 2014). In Africa, high rates of child marriage coupled with population growth could have devastating human and development consequences.   Studies conducted by UNICEF (2005) showed that 42% of women in Africa aged 15-24 years were either engaged or married before the age of 18. Ghana is noted to be among the countries with the highest prevalence of child marriage in Africa and the world (UNFPA, 2012). In 2010, about 277, 000 women aged 20-24 were married before age 18, if this trend should continue; about 407,000 women below the age 18 will be married or engaged by 2030 (UNFPA, 2012) . In Ghana, specific socio- cultural practices in various regions such as puberty rites like bragoro in the Ashanti Region, trokosi in the Volta Region (WilDAF, 2014) contribute to child marriage. The highest prevalence and occurrence of arranged marriages, exchange marriage, betrothal, and traditional boyfriend/girlfriend relationship in the Northern Region, Upper West, and the Upper East Region also foster child marriage (Mabefam-Gmalifo& Ohene-Konadu, 2013). Not much research has focused on establishing the predictors of child marriage in Ghana. Thus the aim of this research is to understand the predictors of child marriage in Ghana.

Methods: This study used the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey data. It was a household survey conducted primarily by the Ghana Statistical Service and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research with financial resources from the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID), the government of Ghana, United Nations organizations, and the Danish International Development Agency (Nketiah-Amponsah, et al 2012). It used a multistage, stratified probability sample of eligible women aged 15-49 years. It interviewed 11,888 households (Ghana DHS, 2008).

Results: Findings showed that 48% of women were either married or engaged before age 18, whereas 51% married after age 18.  About 44% of women had their first sexual intercourse before age 18, and these women are 5.44 times more likely to marry before age 18 than women who had sex after age 18, controlling for other variables. Also, women living in the Upper East Region are 78% more likely to marry before age 18 than women located in the Greater Accra Region. Brong Ahafo region has the highest risk of women engaging in union or being married before age 18. Primary education in this study was not a protective factor but rather a risk factor that foster child marriage, as children with primary school education are 44% more likely to marry before age 18 than those with higher education.

Implications: A comprehensive policy intervention should be promoted in most regions of Ghana to mitigate socio-cultural practices that support child marriage. Also secondary school education for girls should be promoted.