ABSTRACT

Objectives:

Although there is a legal age limit for marriage in most countries, early marriage, which is defined as marriages under the age of 18 years, still persists. Early marriages, in which major gender inequality is observed, particularly affect the physical and mental well-being of girls in a negative way. The aim of this study was to examine sociodemographic factors and psychiatric diagnoses that might be associated with early marriages.

Materials and Methods:

Our study included forty-two adolescents referred by the courts for forensic evaluation for early marriage. The case files, social examination reports and psychometric evaluation results were examined retrospectively. Psychiatric diagnoses were established by clinical interview based on DSM-5.

Results:

All of the cases were adolescent girls, 20% were illiterate, 40% were graduated from primary school. Of the sample, 56.8% lived in rural areas. Before the time of their forensic evaluation, 81% carried out informal marriage with religious marriage. Of girls, 59.5% were pregnant, 9.5% had a child. The rate of having any psychiatric diagnosis was 9.5% according to DSM 5. It was observed that those who were pregnant at earlier ages were married with religious marriage at a younger age, and the age gap between them and their spouses was higher, compared to those who never became cpregnant (p<0.05).

Conclusion:

Early marriages are associated with low levels of education and socioeconomic difficulties. Keeping the girls in the school setting for longer is one of the most substantial prevention to reduce early marriagies. There is a need to establish special networks for married girls to support the development of their education, knowledge and skills.