Child marriage -The cause of high rate maternal mortality in Northern Nigeria and other parts of Africa

In several cultures in Nigeria and other African nations,given out daughters in marriage at young age is a common tradition. Female children are undervalued, not well nature, malnourished and not educated, are often married to... [ view full abstract ]

In several cultures in Nigeria and other African nations,given out daughters in marriage at young age is a common tradition. Female children are undervalued, not well nature, malnourished and not educated, are often married to much older men who see them as slaves and sex maids instead of brides.In such marriage, the female have little or no power and sense of self determination because in early marriage the girl child cannot stay in school,and have little motivation or ability to plan a family.
In an effort to understand the basic cause of high maternal mortality in the northern part of Nigeria, a team of investigators went to the region on a fact finding project.The method was hospital mortality record questionnaire and the respondents were health practitioners from both private and public hospital and maternity homes in the region.Findings are that the respondents reported the records from their different hospitals & maternity homes. Over half the respondents reported 80 out of 100 maternal mortality victims are infants born to teenage mothers of below 17 years who likely die within the first year than infants born to mothers ages 20 to 38.Maternal mortality rate twice as high for mothers ages 13 to 17 than mothers ages 20 to 38. The research have shown that child marriage which lead to early childbearing is the major cause of maternal mortality in the northern Nigeria and other parts of Africa that practice child marriage.
Conclusion;To reduce maternal mortality rate in this area there is need for international & local intervention through intensive sensitization on right of the girl child who are force to child marriage.Girl child should attain the age of consent and adulthood which is 18+ and must have completed basic education which is primary+secondary school,hence reduces early childbearing with its severe consequences