Rijal Nished, Ahranjani Behnoush, Hitan Padma, Fitzgerald Sian
HealthBridge Foundation of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
The University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2025 Mar 18;5(3):e0004323. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004323. eCollection 2025.
Child marriage remains a pressing issue in Nepal despite a decreasing trend in recent decades. The Nepal constitution prohibits child marriage, and the local governments have implemented various strategies to combat it. Nevertheless, child marriage practice continues, particularly in remote and mountainous regions, posing a challenge to the effectiveness and sustainability of interventions. This study aimed to gather insights from key community stakeholders on the consequences and perceived causes of child marriage, which can serve as a foundation for developing culturally appropriate interventions in Karnali province. Eleven Focus Group Discussions and 13 Key Informant Interviews were conducted with a total of 121 participants, with adult and adolescent participants' mean ages of 35.2 and 15.2 years, respectively. The participants were asked about the significance of child marriage in their community, its consequences, and perceived causes. Discussions were transcribed verbatim in Nepali, and a thematic approach was used for data analysis. There was agreement that child marriage has been declining in the community but continues to be a substantial public health issue. Clear comprehension of the consequences of child marriage, both immediate and long-term, was evident. Child marriage was identified to be influenced by a complex interplay of factors across individual, interpersonal, community, and policy levels. Cultural and gender norms and socioeconomic determinants emerged as interconnected and primary causes. An additional theme highlighted the inequity in accessing information and services, particularly for women and girls. The significance of recognizing the agency of individuals and community groups in their ability to change was also underscored. These findings suggest the stakeholders' awareness of child marriage in their community is significant. To develop and implement effective and sustainable interventions, it is crucial for diverse stakeholder groups to take ownership and actively participate in the planning and execution of interventions led by local government initiatives.
尽管近几十年来童婚现象呈下降趋势，但在尼泊尔，童婚仍然是一个紧迫的问题。尼泊尔宪法禁止童婚，地方政府也实施了各种策略来打击童婚。然而，童婚现象仍在继续，尤其是在偏远山区，这对干预措施的有效性和可持续性构成了挑战。本研究旨在收集关键社区利益相关者对童婚后果及成因的见解，为在卡纳利省制定符合文化习俗的干预措施奠定基础。研究共进行了11次焦点小组讨论和13次关键信息访谈，共有121名参与者，成年参与者和青少年参与者的平均年龄分别为35.2岁和15.2岁。研究人员询问了参与者童婚在其社区中的重要性、后果及成因。讨论内容以尼泊尔语逐字记录，并采用主题分析法进行数据分析。大家一致认为，社区中的童婚现象一直在减少，但仍然是一个严重的公共卫生问题。对童婚的直接和长期后果都有清晰的认识。童婚被认为受到个人、人际、社区和政策层面多种因素的复杂相互作用的影响。文化和性别规范以及社会经济决定因素是相互关联的主要原因。另一个主题强调了在获取信息和服务方面的不平等，尤其是对妇女和女孩而言。还强调了认识到个人和社区团体改变能力的重要性。这些发现表明利益相关者对其社区中童婚现象的认识很重要。为了制定和实施有效且可持续的干预措施，不同的利益相关者群体积极参与并主导由地方政府倡议的干预措施的规划和执行至关重要。
