Sociological Analysis of Socio-Economic Factors and Child Marriages among Girls: A Cross-Sectional Study conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

In Pakistan 19 million child marriages are arranged by their parents and close relatives without their consent and involvement in decision making. In the country 18.7 percent of girls are married at the age of 18-22. It is argued that economic factors are one of the leading factors for child marriages among girls in Pakistan. This study examined various socio-economic factors and their correlation with child marriage among girls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The researchers applied quantitative research design with deductive reasoning and probability cluster sampling technique to select 384 married women as respondents of the study. The researchers hired the services of female research assistants to conduct household survey because male interaction with women is not allowed in the community due to cultural norms of the study locale. The results are explained with descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation is used to draw the relationship between economic factors and child marriages among girls. In descriptive statistics 58 percent respondents shared that girls are considered burden on family economy, while 44 percent respondents shared that women have limited right to inheritance movable property. The Pearson correlation indicates that there is a positive correlation between practice of girl early marriage and female member consider burden on family economy (r=.221, P. Value= 0.01). It is concluded that due to lack of women financial autonomy families prefer child marriages among girls.