Determinants and consequences of child marriages in Zambia: analysis of the Zambia demographic and health survery 2014.
| dc.contributor.author | Namukonda, Edith S. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-05-08T07:57:13Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-05-08T07:57:13Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2019 | |
| dc.description | Thesis of Master of Arts in Population Studies | |
| dc.description.abstract | Child marriage has a devastating effect on adolescent girls such as poverty, early school dropout, HIV and other related sexually transmitted diseases. According to the Zambia Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) 2014 report, statistics indicate that child marriage is more common among girls (17%) than boys (1%). However, the literature reveals a gap in the empirical evidence based on a national representative picture on the determinants and probable consequences of child marriage in Zambia. A comprehensive study has not been conducted which clearly represents the national picture of the causes and effects of child marriage in Zambia. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the determinants and the associated consequences of child marriage based on information obtained from the ZDHS 2014, a nationally representative population-based survey. The study used the ZDHS 2014 female dataset comprising of information of women within reproductive ages 15-49 years in Zambia with a sample of (n=11,094). Descriptive statistics were produced to look at the sample distributions and a correlation test was conducted to observe which variables were closely associated with the dependent variable. Bivariate analysis was later conducted to determine which variables were statistically significant and associated with the dependent variable. Models were later produced using multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine which variables emerged as highly significant and influence or affect Child marriage. The study found out that Child marriage is highest among women who have not attended any school, and education was identified as a protective against child marriage. Girls in rural areas are likely to get married at younger ages compared to those in urban areas, though the study reveals a borderline sigficance. Living in Luapula [OR,0.750, CI:0.573-0.983] or Western province [OR,0.386 CI:0.290-0.515] was more protective of Child marriage compared to living in Central province. Child marriage is highly associated with physical violence as shown in the study results. Most girls married below the age of 18years are at a higher risk of experiencing physical violence. These results are also evidence that child marriage increases the risk of physical violence among the victims, therefore Interventions to eliminate child marriage would help end physical violence. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.unza.zm/handle/123456789/8603 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | The University of Zambia | |
| dc.title | Determinants and consequences of child marriages in Zambia: analysis of the Zambia demographic and health survery 2014. | |
| dc.type | Thesis |