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Delayed Marriage and Abstinence-Until-Marriage

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Delayed Marriage and Abstinence-Until-Marriage Issues & Implications limited, but in the developing world, marriage itself sometimes can oper- Delayed Marriage and ate as a significant reproductive health risk factor. There, unplanned Abstinence-until-Marriage: pregnancies, whether clandestinely aborted or carried to term, often On a Collision Course? lead to complications that cause death or serious disability. By Susan A. Cohen Unprotected sex with a husband who is not monogamous increases a Early marriage can be life-threaten- Indeed, in the United States, woman’s likelihood of being exposed ing to young women in developing research indicates that marriage— to HIV or to other STIs that increase countries. A new bride, often although for reasons not entirely susceptibility to HIV or that can coerced by her family into marrying understood—does seem to bring with cause infertility. an older man, may be at higher risk it a range benefits for individuals, of contracting HIV than if she had couples and, especially, children. The Indeed, married women in the remained single. Even if she is not Center for Law and Social Policy world’s poorest countries often pos- physically or emotionally ready, she (CLASP) reports, for example, that sess less power than do unmarried generally is expected to bear chil- children who grow up in a low-con- women to negotiate if and under dren right away. If she survives the flict household with married biologi- what conditions to have sex—and physical tolls of childbirth, a young cal parents, when compared with whether and what kind of contracep- mother’s life prospects often remain children who grow up in other types tive or disease prevention method to dim—as do those of her children, of households, are usually healthier, use. Marriage—particularly a forced should they survive. Yet, many more likely to achieve high education marriage—between an older man women perpetuate the cycle of early levels and less likely to become par- and a woman still in her teens may marriage with their own daughters ents themselves while still teenagers. exacerbate the situation, increasing for lack of better options. the inherent power imbalance with There are limits, however, to what severe negative consequences for the Grinding poverty, traditional sexual problems marriage can solve. In fact, young woman. mores, the low social status of too-early marriage, as CLASP also women and lack of education all has reported, carries its own risks. Young Brides in Poor Countries contribute to the practice of early Teen marriages are highly unstable, marriage; early marriage, in turn, and teen mothers who marry are Although uncommon in most devel- reinforces these conditions. Not sur- likely to have a second child very oped countries, early marriage is still prisingly, then, researchers and poli- quickly, which in turn often means prevalent—and much of it still cymakers in fields ranging from the end of formal schooling. All of arranged—in developing countries education to health to economic these factors combine to lead to around the world. According to the development are calling for a global lower economic prospects for International Center for Research on campaign to delay the age at which women who marry as teens. Women’s (ICRW) 2003 report, Too women marry and to ensure that Young to Wed: The Lives, Rights, when women do marry, they do so Moreover, in terms of reproductive and Health of Young Married Girls, of their own free will. The social health, marriage by itself does not the practice is highest, overall, in transition to later marriage, how- shield women from the possibility of west Africa and in south and central ever, is unlikely to be pain-free experiencing an unintended preg- Asia (see chart, page 2). Although either for parents or for govern- nancy and having to make a decision rates vary considerably from country ments, since delayed marriage, by between having an abortion or an to country, in Bangladesh, Cameroon, definition, means prolonged expo- unplanned birth—or even from con- Mali, Mozambique, Nicaragua and sure at least to the possibility of pre- tacting a sexually transmitted infec- Uganda, more than half of today’s marital sex and its consequences. tion (STI). Any of these events can 20–24-year-old women married destabilize a relationship, perhaps before turning 18. fatally (“Marriage Is No Immunity Marriage as a Risk Factor from Problems with Planning Preg- Causes Most societies and cultures view mar- nancies,” TGR, May 2003, page 10). riage as a normal and expected rite The ICRW report identifies two main historical reasons for early marriage of passage—an inherent good associ- The protections afforded by mar- ated with safety for all involved. in developing countries. First, mar- riage in the United States may be rying off a daughter early ensures The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy June 2004 1 MARRIED TEENS to secure identity and status in fami- almost always follows early marriage, lies and as adults in society,” even if since producing children is still a Early marriage is still common in much of the limited. primary purpose of marriage in world, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and many developing countries and a South-Central Asia. measure of a woman’s worth. When Consequences the bride is not fully developed Western Africa Just as women’s low status explains physiologically, however, pregnancy South-Central Asia why early and arranged marriage and childbearing often lead to death Eastern Africa persists, early and arranged marriage or serious disability. In its recently perpetuates the low status of released report, Children Having Caribbean women. At the individual level, early Children: State of the World’s Central America marriage disrupts schooling and lim- Mothers 2004, Save the Children Middle East/ its economic opportunity; this signif- West Asia puts it this way: “When significant icantly impedes overall development percentages of girls are becoming North America at the country level. Moreover, in pregnant very young—and as a East Asia poor countries with limited access to result are losing their babies, losing Western Europe health services and information, their lives, or living with painful dis- 010203040women who marry very young are abilities—the destabilizing effect on % of women 15–19 currently married more likely to experience more, and society as a whole is profound.” Source: ICRW, 2003; data from Population Reference Bureau (PRB), The more serious, health problems. World’s Youth 2000, Washington, DC: PRB, 2000. In this year’s report, Save the Young brides with older husbands are Children ranks 50 developing coun- highly vulnerable to sexual violence tries where early motherhood is continuation of the family lineage in and coercion—and to contracting most common and risky. Notably, cultures where mortality rates, espe- HIV or other STIs—because they early marriage is a key determinant cially maternal and infant mortality lack individual autonomy and power, of “early motherhood risk.” The rates, are high. Marrying a young as well as information, education and report concludes that young women woman “at or near puberty,” ICRW access to services. A woman in this and their children are faring poorly says, “has been important for maxi- circumstance cannot insist on either in all 50 countries, the most perilous mizing fertility in socially sanctioned abstinence or condom use. Even if countries, with the exception of unions.” Second, early marriage she is monogamous, her partner may Afghanistan, being in Sub-Saharan “secur[es] critical social, economic, not be. “Young married girls are Africa (see table). The report also and political alliances for the family, more likely to be HIV-positive than identifies Sweden, Denmark and clan, or lineage.” their unmarried peers because they Finland at the top of another list of have sex more often, use condoms countries where mothers do best, Poverty only exacerbates and per- less often, are unable to refuse sex, followed by Austria, the Netherlands, petuates this vicious cycle. In coun- and have partners who are more Norway, Australia, Canada, United tries ranging from Ethiopia to India likely to be HIV-positive,” concludes Kingdom and United States. to Malaysia, for example, parents the ICRW report, citing research view daughters as an economic bur- from Kenya and Zambia. Indeed, den that can be eased by marrying United Nations Secretary General Culture Clash them off. Dowries create additional Kofi Annan used the occasion of Analysts and policymakers increas- incentives for parents to arrange for International Women’s Day earlier ingly acknowledge the negative early marriages for their daughters. this year to point out that because of impacts of early marriage in develop- In Bangladesh, for example, the the prevalence of early marriage and ing countries, including how it limits price of the dowry increases with sexual violence, the widely hailed women’s opportunities for education the age of the young woman. ABC approach to HIV prevention— and skills development. At the same abstinence, be faithful and use con- time, there is growing recognition And, of course, persistent gender doms—may be neither enough nor that increasing women’s empower- discrimination plays a critical role. even the most important set of HIV ment and status are central to eco- With little or no right to self-deter- prevention interventions for many nomic and social development at mination, the fact remains that women. both the community and country young women in poor countries have levels. Toward that end, many coun- few options. “Getting married and Early pregnancy and motherhood tries and international agreements bearing children,” notes ICRW, “are also pose serious health risks for have settled on 18 as the desired often the only means for young girls young women. Early motherhood minimum legal age for marriage— The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy June 2004 2 and, in fact, early marriage already is played out, in part, as developing widespread and have been so for less common in many parts of the countries confront fundamental many years, but most U.S.
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