GIRL CHILD

This study examines the effects of early marriage on the girl child. To find out peoples perceptive on early marriage, to examine the factors that promote early child marriage, to access the psychological health and emotional consequences of early marriage on young girls, to explore strategies for reducing the prevalence of early marriage. The study adopted the survey design on the bases of which data was sourced; simple percentage instrument was employed to analyze the data collected. The findings reveal that early marriage negatively affects the physical, emotional and psychological health of the affected girls in general. Childbirth complications, domestic abuse and exploitation are some of the consequences of early marriage. The study recommends that legal intervention as well as sensitization should be taken into consideration. Laws should be enforced and public awareness should be encouraged. Basic education should be made compulsory and economic empowering programs should be established and implemented. Families who force/ coerce their children into early marriage should face the consequences as stipulated in the law.