Early marriage in northern Ghana: Views from parents of married adolescent girls:

Elizabeth Anokyewaa  Sarfo; Joana Salifu Yendork; Anthony Vernon  Naidoo

Elizabeth Anokyewaa Sarfo Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Counseling Centre https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2794-0329
Joana Salifu Yendork University of Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5665-3404
Anthony Vernon Naidoo Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Western Cape, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2556-5676

Abstract

This study presents parents’ (N=8) reasons for marrying off their daughters early, and their reactions to and perceptions of the implications of their daughters’ marriage. Using a generic inductive qualitative method to analyze the data collected, findings revealed parents’ reasons for marrying off their daughters were grounded on an interplay between cultural norms, parents’ diminished authority over their daughters and early pregnancy. The influence of modernity and oppositional behavior of their daughters in addition to economic, cultural and religious factors were also identified as reasons for the early marriage of daughters. The benefits and negative implications of early marriage for both parents and their daughters are also discussed. Findings provide insight into understanding parents’ motivations and perceptions that impact the practice of child marriage in Ghana.

Early marriage in northern Ghana: Views from parents of married adolescent girls

Parents' views on early marriage

Abstract