Child Marriage

Child marriage is a substantial issue in many parts of the world. In 2018, a UNICEF report estimated there were 650 million child brides worldwide. That statistic includes girls under the age of 18 who were already married and adult women who married in childhood.1

Getting married as a child subjects girls to mental and physical danger. Often, child brides are raped and abused, and they often give birth in their early teenage years. Since many of these girls suffer from malnutrition, the stress of childbirth threatens their lives and the lives of their babies. Girls who give birth at a young age can face a host of complications, including miscarriage, obstetric fistula—and death.2

“Complications of pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death in young women aged 15–19. Young girls who marry later and delay pregnancy beyond their adolescence have more chances to stay healthier, to better their education and build a better life for themselves and their families.”3

- Dr. Flavia Bustreo, leader in the World Health Organization’s Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.

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