Source: Africa Science News
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest proportion of underage marriages with nearly half of population of young women marrying before their 18^th birthday. This according to Global advocates is being fueled by poverty, retrogressive cultural practices alongside legal and policy deficiencies.

The ten countries with highest rate of child marriage are Niger, Chad, Central African Republic, Guinea, Mozambique, Mali, South Sudan, Burkinafaso and Malawi.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), contend that 39,000 girl child marriages occur daily and the figure is likely to hit 140 million by 2020 as underage girls become wives to older men.

“Child marriage is an appalling violation of human rights and robs girls of their education, health and long-term prospects,” remarked the Executive Director, UNFPA, Babatunde Osotimehin.

He added that a girl who is married as a child is one whose potential will not be fulfilled.

Experts agree that child brides are more vulnerable to sexual violence, physical and emotional abuse and other forms of discrimination.

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women held a special session on March 7 to discuss progressive interventions that can help end child marriages in worst affected nations.

Delegates agreed that ending child marriages will boost progress towards attainment of millennium development goals 4 and 5 on infant and maternal health.

Though 158 countries have set the legal age for marriage at 18years, the practice of marrying off underage girls is still rampant in rural Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia in the light of social, cultural and economic factors.

The international community has reiterated that child marriage is a violation of human rights and is a drawback to social and economic progress.

“No girl should be robbed of her childhood, her education and health, and her aspirations. Yet today millions of girls are denied their rights each year when they are married as child brides,” said the Executive Director, UN Women, Michelle Bachelet.

Under age marriages however are detrimental to health of girls.

Young brides are exposed to grave health risks; grapple with economic deprivation and illiteracy that deny them a chance to fulfill their aspirations.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), complications of pregnancy and child birth are leading cause of death in young women aged 15-19.

The Assistant Director-General for Family, Women`s and Children`s Health at the WHO says that young girls who marry later and delay pregnancies beyond their adolescence have more chances to stay healthier, to better their education and build a better life for themselves and their families.

“Child marriage is not only wrong, it is dangerous. It exposes a young girl to profound health risks from early pregnancy and difficult child birth and it exposes her baby to complications of premature birth,” remarked the Executive Director, UNICEF, Anthony Lake

Health advocates regretted that in many poor countries, underage girls are compelled to demonstrate their fertility by giving birth immediately they are married off.

“These children, because that is what they are, are discouraged from using contraceptives or might have to ask their husbands permission, or they have scant knowledge of or access to what they need,” said Carole Presern,the Executive Director, The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

There is need for countries to scale up interventions that would help reduce the magnitude of child marriages.

Experts stressed that access to quality education and health alongside implementing legislation and policies to empower the girl child will help minimize the population of child brides.