Findings and lessons learned from developing a 5-year community-based intervention for preventing early marriage in rural Gambia.

IF 3.4 2区 医学 Q1 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Mat Lowe, Mariama Bojang, Alhagie Gaye, Isatou Njie, Awa Dubois
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Abstract

Background: Preventing Early Marriage in Rural Gambia: Testing an Intervention was a 5-year project that aimed to address early marriage among girls in 53 rural communities in The Gambia. At baseline, the aim of the project was to identify the social and cultural factors that contribute to early marriage for girls aged 10-19. The baseline findings revealed that factors such as ethnicity and parents' concerns about their daughters engaging in premarital sex were significant contributors to early marriage for girls. Additionally, the lack of viable alternatives to marriage was also identified as a key factor. This information was utilized by the project team to design and implement the project intervention that included community engagement forums and discussion sessions and capacity building for key community stakeholders.

Methods: This study compared the project's baseline and endline data to assess the impact of the project intervention on girls' age at first marriage and changes in parents' knowledge of and attitudes toward early marriage and its prevention. It utilized a non-experimental evaluation design.

Results: The study results showed a significant increase in the average age of girls at first marriage, from 15.9 at baseline to 23.9 years at endline (P < 0.0001). Additionally, parents who actively participated in the community engagement forums and discussions have significantly improved their understanding of the harmful effects of early marriage on girls. This new knowledge has empowered these parents to re-evaluate the necessity of early marriage for girls.

Conclusion: A key lesson we learned from developing this project intervention is that locally-based interventions, carefully designed and implemented with meaningful participation from key community stakeholders, have the potential to address the underlying causes of early marriage for girls in rural communities in The Gambia.

Abstract Image

Abstract Image

冈比亚农村预防早婚的5年社区干预措施的研究结果和经验教训。
背景:预防冈比亚农村早婚:测试一项干预措施是一个为期5年的项目,旨在解决冈比亚53个农村社区女童早婚问题。在基线上,该项目的目的是确定导致10-19岁女孩早婚的社会和文化因素。基线调查结果显示,种族和父母对女儿婚前性行为的担忧等因素是导致女孩早婚的重要因素。此外,缺乏可行的婚姻替代办法也被认为是一个关键因素。项目团队利用这些信息设计和实施了项目干预措施,其中包括社区参与论坛和讨论会,以及针对关键社区利益相关者的能力建设。方法:本研究比较项目基线和终点数据,评估项目干预对女童初婚年龄、父母对早婚及预防早婚的知识和态度变化的影响。本研究采用非实验评估设计。结果:研究结果显示,女孩初婚的平均年龄显著增加,从基线时的15.9岁增加到结束时的23.9岁(P结论:我们从制定该项目干预措施中学到的一个重要教训是,在社区主要利益相关者的有意义参与下,精心设计和实施基于地方的干预措施,有可能解决冈比亚农村社区女孩早婚的根本原因。
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来源期刊
Reproductive Health
Reproductive Health PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-
CiteScore
6.00
自引率
5.90%
发文量
220
审稿时长
>12 weeks
期刊介绍: Reproductive Health focuses on all aspects of human reproduction. The journal includes sections dedicated to adolescent health, female fertility and midwifery and all content is open access. Reproductive health is defined as a state of physical, mental, and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system, at all stages of life. Good reproductive health implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so. Men and women should be informed about and have access to safe, effective, affordable, and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice, and the right to appropriate health-care services that enable women to safely go through pregnancy and childbirth.
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