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Geospatial correlates of early marriage and union formation in Ghana

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  • Fiifi Amoako Johnson
  • Mumuni Abu
  • Chigozie Edson Utazi

Abstract

The practice of early marriage, although acknowledged as a human rights violation, continues to occur in many countries. Different studies have identified the associated factors in many developing countries. However, these factors often assume no geographical variation in these factors within countries. Again, cultural practices and beliefs which strongly influence the acceptance and practices of early marriage vary geographically. In addition, geographic clusters of high rates of early marriage and union formation are also unknown. Thus, area specific correlates of early child marriage are required for the development of location specific policies to aid the eradication of early child marriage. Using data from the 2010 Ghana Population and Housing Census, this study examines the extent of geospatial clustering in early marriage amongst girls and their spatially-varying associated factors at the district level. The findings reveal strong clustering of high early marriage amongst districts in the Upper West, Northern and Volta regions. Nationally, 6.96% (CI = 6.83, 7.08) of girls are married or in union before their 18th birthday. The estimates range from 2.7% in the Jaman North district in Brong Ahafo region to 19.0% in the Gushiegu district in Northern region. Economic factors were observed as important spatially-varying associated factors. The findings suggest that targeted interventions are required in the effort to eradicate the practice in Ghana.

Suggested Citation

  • Fiifi Amoako Johnson & Mumuni Abu & Chigozie Edson Utazi, 2019. "Geospatial correlates of early marriage and union formation in Ghana," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(10), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0223296
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223296
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Jennifer Parsons & Jeffrey Edmeades & Aslihan Kes & Suzanne Petroni & Maggie Sexton & Quentin Wodon, 2015. "Economic Impacts of Child Marriage: A Review of the Literature," The Review of Faith & International Affairs, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(3), pages 12-22, September.
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    5. Shahnaz Abdullah* & Halima Qureshi & Shakil Quayes, 2015. "The adverse effect of child marriage on women’s economic well being in Bangladesh – can microfinance help?," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 49(4), pages 109-125, October-D.
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    Cited by:

    1. Seth R. Gitter & Onyedikachukwu Onyemeziem & William Corcoran, 2023. "Menarche, Marriage Age, Education, and Employment in Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia," Working Papers 2023-04, Towson University, Department of Economics, revised Sep 2023.
    2. Fiifi Amoako Johnson, 2022. "Spatiotemporal clustering and correlates of childhood stunting in Ghana: Analysis of the fixed and nonlinear associative effects of socio-demographic and socio-ecological factors," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(2), pages 1-22, February.

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