Child marriages in Shamva district of Zimbabwe

Abstract

Child marriage has far-reaching health, social, economic, and political implications for the girl and her community. It truncates a girl’s childhood, creates grave physical and psychological health risks, and robs her of internationally recognised human rights. Ending child marriage requires the consent of all actors involved such as fathers, government, Non Governmental Organisations, religious, community, and tribal leaders. Qualitative methodology was used in the study. Purposive sampling and snow ball sampling were used to identify key informants and women who were victims of child marriages. Ending child marriage requires a multifaceted approach focused on the girls, their families, the community, and the government. Culturally appropriate programs that provide families and communities with education and reproductive health services can help stop child marriage, early pregnancies, and illness and death in young mothers and their children