THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF CHILD MARRIAGE IN ANYIGBA, DEKINA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Early marriage today remains one of the greatest challenging phenomena demanding absolute and urgent attention in Africa, including Nigeria. This study examines the socio-economic implications of child marriage in Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State. The research design for the study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey, while questionnaire was used to collect data from 180 respondents using purposive sampling to select the participants for the study. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18 and were presented in simple percentages, frequency counts and tables. The findings revealed among others that child marriage had a negative effect on the respondents' health, the standard of living and educational status. It was also discovered that religious orientations of the couple’s parents did not play a significant role in the practice of child marriage. Finally, the finding revealed that many factors such as religion, illiteracy and poverty were the reasons why parents gave out their children early in marriage. The study, therefore, recommended that government, religious leaders and traditional rulers should be engaged through conventional, traditional and social media with a view to sensitising the parents and child brides on the effect of child marriage and its negative implications in the study area.