CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Early marriage, or child marriage, is defined as the marriage or

union between two people in which one or both parties are younger than

18 years of age. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes

the right to “free and full” consent to a marriage, acknowledging that

consent cannot be “free and full” when one of the individuals involved is

not sufficiently mature to make an informed decision about a life

partner. Nonetheless, in many low- and middle-income countries,

particularly in poorer rural areas, girls are often committed to an arrange

marriage without their knowledge or consent. Such an arrangement can

occur as early as infancy. Parents see marriage as a cultural rite that

protects their daughter from sexual assault and offers the care of a male

guardian. Parents often feel that a young girl is an economic burden and

therefore wish to marry off their young daughters before they become an

economic liability.

Marriage before the age of 18 is a reality for many young women

most especially in Bangsamoro community. The world parents encourage

the marriage of their daughters while they are still children in hopes that

the marriage will benefit them both financially and socially, while also

relieving financial burdens of the family.

Official data on early marriages in Mindanao is scarce, but a 2010

survey with some 600 respondents in the province’s predominantly

Muslim regions showed that 83% of residents aged between 15 and 19

got married in the areas, whereas 17 % were between 9-14 years.

A meta-analysis conducted by blunk and Williams (2009) revealed

that the highest number of early marriage in the world is found in

Southern Asia. Pregnancy and maternity at a very early age are an

inevitable conclusion of child marriage. It is apparent that each year 14

million adolescents between the age of 15 to 19 birth.

Statement of the Problem

This study was conducted to determine the challenges among

selected married students in selected municipalities in Maguindanao.

Specifically; it hopes to answer the following question:

1. What is the socio-demographic of the respondents? In terms of;

a.) Age

b.) Sex

c.) Year Level

2. What is the causes of the early marriage as perceived by the

respondents?

3. What are challenges encountered by the respondents in early

marriage?

Objective of this study

The researchers was conducted this study about the challenges of

early marriage on student in selected municipalities of Maguindanao.

Specifically, this study aims to:

1. Identify the characteristic of the respondents. In terms of; Age, sex,

religion, year level.

2. Determine the causes of early marriage to the respondents.

3. Identify the challenges of the early marriage as perceived by the

respondents.

Significance of the Study

The findings of this study was revealed the challenges of early

marriage to the students of selected municipalities. Therefore, this was

significant to the following.

 To the Parents they understand different problems encountered by

their children and the reasons why they are engaged in the early

marriage. The findings of this study were help them to realize the

importance of guidance and their own parenting style on the

development of their children that has problem.

To the Student they was uplifting their potential to better

understand on marriage and responsibilities for come up with the best of

offspring in the family and better relationship to one another.

To the Teacher they were providing an enhancement of awareness

regarding the challenges of early marriage among student of selected

municipalities in Maguindanao.

To the Community this study was given them useful information to

investigate the present problem of early marriage among student of

selected municipalities in Maguindanao.

Scope and Delimitation

This study was focused on student’s women and men in selected

municipalities in Maguindanao. This study was conducted into three

municipalities. Firstly, Datu Saudi, Ampatuan, Maguindanao. Second,

Datu Salibo, Maguindanao and the third Datu Piang, Maguindanao who

were married early at 18 years old and below.

Definition of Terms

To facilitate the understanding of the readers about contents of

this study, the following terms are hereby conceptually and operationally

defined:

Challenge- refers to the encountered of having early marriage among

students of selected municipalities in Maguindanao.

Marriage- refers to the child marriage before 18 years old of age for

girls as they serve as the respondents of this study among selected

student from the municipalities in Maguindanao.

Students- refers to the selected students who got early marriage in

the municipalities in Maguindanao.

 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES AND

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

This chapter presents materials related to this study taken from

periodical and websites. These materials provide valuable information for

the conceptual of the framework.

Physiological and Psychological Effects of Early Marriage

According to UNICEF (2005). Throughout the world in different

countries and regions the phenomenon of early marriage is not new as it

has been in practice from generations young girls are married when they

are still children and hence they are forced to go through the difficulties

and consequence of early pregnancies and other heavy south

responsibilities. This tradition of early marriage Bangladish, Afghanistan,

Iran, Pakistan, India and many their maturity reproductive health and

also counts for the consequences these young female are put under

pressure of heavy domestic chores reduce life choices and with drawal

from educational and to exhibit fertility.

 According to Mathur(2003) and (Clark 2004) under developed

physiology lack of information low esteem and less awareness is leading

young females to the high risk of material mortality and mobility as

compared to the young females who are married after the age 20.

Physiological aggression from any of the partner may led to physiological

aggression making the relation between the two person worst which for

sure challenge the female as she is her teens and male is matured.

Furthermore, such violent actions may challenges the person with

traumatic stress, depression, mood change, anxiety and lack of

confidence such events occurring in a females life may bring up some

changes in physical and psychological behaviors which result in mental

distress. Depression and other unexplained gynecologic symptoms

(Ahmed, 2013; Kabede, 2007 and Gallo 2003).

In addition, as stated by UNICEF (2005), instead of being viewed as

child or teenage girls are considered as social customs exclusively as

viewers or mother. In many countries the legal age of marriage is set up

1 year. According to (DHS) demographic and Health survey data 62% 0f

females are married before they enter 20th year of their age in countries

like United State female are even married as early at the age of 14 or 15

with the approval of their parents. The risk of associated with sexual

activity along with early pregnancy.

Early Marriage and Human Rights

Early marriage is a violation of the fundamental rights of the child.

Article 21 of the 1990 African charter on the right and welfare of the

child status that. Child marriage betrothal of women and men shall be

prohibited and effective action including legislation should be taken to

specify the minimum age of marriage below 18 years. Also the Maputo

protocol on the women rights in Africa (October 2005) the newly adopted

criminal law of Ethiopia (2005) the acknowledged of minimum age

marriage for women to be 18 years and the state take that marriage shall

only. Taken place with full consent of both parties. Unfortunately, the

knowledge and respect for the law is limited among many rural

communities.

A big challenges is long term to enhance the status of women in

Ethiopia. To strengthen their access and control over resources and thus

fight women’s poverty and economic insecurity to heighten their

influence and decision-making power within the family and the

community and to family establish their value as partners in

development members of society.

People- including, religious and community society and carry out

policy and community level advocacy continuously. In collaboration with

the Ethiopian women lawyers Association and Ministry of Justice have

been conducting legal literary training on the issue of early marriage. As

a result of work and that of partners. More than 9.000 early marriage in

Amhara and some 3,000 in In Tigray were prevented in 2005.

In a summary, Early Marriage is a violation of a fundamental

rights of the child. In article 21 1990 African, women and men shall be

prohibited and effective action including legislation should be taken to

specify the minimum age of marriage 18.

Incentives for Perpetuating Early Marriages

Poverty plays a central role in perpetuating child marriage. Parents

want to ensure their daughter’s financial security; however, daughters

are considered an economic burden. Feeding, clothing, and educating

girls is costly, and girls will eventually leave the household. A family’s

only way to recover its investment in a daughter may be to have her

married in exchange for a dowry (Nawal, 2006).

In some countries, the dowry decrease as the girl gets older, which

may tempt parents to have their daughters married at younger ages.

These are not necessarily heartless parents but, rather, parents who are

surviving under heartless conditions. Additionally, child marriages form

new alliances between tribes, clans, and villages; reinforce social ties;

and stabilize vital social status.

Furthermore, girls who marry young tend to be poor families and

to have low levels of education. They marry men outside their village,
they must move away. Coping with the unfamiliar inside and outside the

home creates an intensely lonely and isolated life. As these girls assume

their new roles as wives and mothers, they also inherit the primary job of

domestic worker. Because the husband has paid a hefty dowry, the girls

also has immediate pressure to prove her fertility. Girls often embrace

their fate and bear children quickly to secure their identity, status, and

respect as an adult. As a result, these young girls have high total fertility

rates but have missed the opportunities to be children: to play, develop

friendships, bond, become educated, and build social skills (Nour, 2006).

As above said, the researchers conclude that Early marriage can

cause of poverty, parents want to ensure, their daughters financial

security. Girls who marry young tend to be from poor families and to

have low levels of education. They assume their new role as wives and

mothers, they are inherit the primary job domestic worker.

Reason of Early Marriage

According to Nathalie Johansson (2015). In despite of all attention

drawn to child marriage across the world, there is a lack of improvement.

Under what circumstances child marriage does exist and how girl’s living
conditions can be improved. Shall be put on child marriage in general

exemplified in particular by two countries in African, namely Niger and

chad, who both are countries with an extremely high rate of child

marriage.

Addition Nathalie Johansson (2015), based on various reports

regarding the subject in the different countries and also in general. The

sex role in order to indicate a great difference in the number of young

marriage girls in comparison to boys can across the globe.

Furthermore, Even though boys can be victims of child marriage,

the number of girls entering early marriage has not been found to

stagnate everywhere, but the age of when entering marriage tends to

increase. In fact, child marriage has become more common in some

areas. (Nathalie Jansson, 2015).

Moreover, the researchers concluded that one cannot generalize all

underlying causes of child marriage, but one must be aware of the

specific circumstances in the particular areas regarding underlying

factors and correlation.

Socio-emotional challenges

According Vonnie C. Macloyg(2000), family process affecting the

socio-emotional challenges affecting of children living in poor families

and families experiencing economic decline are reviewed. Black children

are of primary interest in the article because they experience

disproportionate shares of the burden of poverty and economic loss and

are at substantially higher risk than white children of experiencing

attendant socio-emotional problems.

Furthermore, It is argue that poverty and economic loss diminish

the capacity for supportive, consistent, and involved parenting and

render parents more vulnerable to the debilitating effects of negative life

events, a major mediator of the link between economic hardship and the

deriving from an excess of negative life events, undesirable chronic

condition, and the absence and disruption of material bonds, economic

hardship adversely affects children’s socio-motional challenge

functioning in part through its impact on the parent’s behavior toward

the child, and father under conditions of economic hardship depend on

the quality of relations between the mother and father. (Vonnie C.

Mcloyd.2000).

In addition, Joseph Ciarrochi et. al.,(2008), amongst adults, low

emotion identification skill relates to poor emotion regulation strategies,

higher rates of anxiety and higher rates of somatic illness and disease.

Has examined Emotional Identification Skill (EIS) in adolescence and, in

particular, the longitudinal impact of Emotional Identification Skill on

social support and affective experience.

 As above said, the researchers conclude the early marriage

processes affecting the socio-emotional of their children to living in a

poor families and families experiencing economic decline are reviewed.

Because they experience low emotion identification skill disproportionate

to share the burden of poverty and economic loss, are experience

attendant socio-emotional problems.

The Conceptual Framework

Poverty

Early
Academic
Marriage
Dependent Challenges

Socio-Emotional
Challenge

Dependent Variable Independent Variable

Figure 1. The Research Paradigm

The diagram shows that three Independent Variable, Poverty,

Academic Challenges, and Socio-Emotional Challenges Are some of the

challenges by the students based on some research.

According to Nawal (2006), Poverty plays a central role in

perpetuating child marriage, Parents want to ensure their daughter’s

financial security. However, daughters are considered an economic

burden, feeding, clothing, and educating girls is costly, and girls will

eventually leave the household. A family’s only way to recover its

investment in a daughter may be to have her married in exchange for a

dowry.

Furthermore, Vonnie C. Macloyg (2000), family process affecting

the socio-emotional challenges affecting of children living in poor families

and families experiencing economic decline are reviewed. Black children

are of primary interest in the article because they experience

disproportionate shares of the burden of poverty and economic loss and

are at substantially higher risk than white children of experiencing

attendant socio-emotional problems.

 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the methodology of the study. It includes the

research design, locale of the study, respondents of the study, research

instrument, data gathering procedures, and statistical treatment of data.

Research design

Descriptive research design was employed in this study to

described the Socio-demographic of the respondents, the causes of the

early marriage as perceived by the respondents, and the challenges

encountered by the respondents on early marriage. The descriptive

design is appropriated to be used because it best served to answer the

problems of this study.

Locale of this study

This study was conducted as three municipalities of Maguindanao

located at municipality of Datu Saudi, Ampatuan , Maguindano. It is

located at eighty eight kilometers (88 km) south of Cotabato and one

hundred nine kilometers (109 km) North Cotabato, other was conducted

at municipality of Datu Salibo, Maguindanao. It is located at five

kilometers (5km) municipality of Datu Saudi, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

Furthermore, this study was conducted in municipality of Datu Piang,

Maguindanao. It is located at one point nine kilometers (1.9 km) Gani L.

Abpi College Incorporated, and one hundred kilometers (100) North

Cotabato.

Respondents of the Study

The respondents of this study was ten (10) in every municipalities

of Maguindanao. Ten (10) respondents in Municipality of Datu Saudi,

Ampatuan, Maguindanao. Ten (10) respondents in Municipality of Datu

Salibo, Maguindanao. Ten (10) respondents in Municipality of Datu

Piang, Maguindanao. With the total of 30 respondents in three selected

Municipalities of Maguindanao. They was chosen as the respondents of

this study because they was given the best data about the problem of

this study.

Research Instrument

The researchers of this study was used a survey questionnaire as

the instrument in gathering the necessary data. The survey

questionnaire was divided into three parts. The first parts was socio-

demographic of the respondents, the second parts, the causes of the

early marriage as perceive by the respondents, the third parts, what are
the challenges encountered by the respondents on early marriage. The

survey questionnaire was developed by the researchers themselves with

the help of their adviser.

Data Gathering Procedures

The researchers was given first a permission letter to the office of

school principal after the permission approved, the researchers was given

a permission letter to the three selected municipalities of Maguindanao,

to allow the researchers to conducted this study. After the permission

signed, the researchers was prepared permission letter addressed to the

respondents that was attached in the survey questionnaire after that, the

researchers was distributed the survey questionnaire to the respondents

was received the survey questionnaires from the respondents for final

analysis.
Statistical Treatment of Data

The data gathered was analyzed and interpreted by employing the

following statistical techniques;

Frequency Count, used to describe the numbers of respondents who

answer the questions.

Percent computation, used to answer the problem in describing the

respondents Socio- demographic of the respondents in terms of the

selected variable like age, sex, religion. Year level.

The formula shows below

P= F/N=100%

Mean computation used to analyze the raw data of the strategies method

used by the researchers to the respondents of early marriage; It’s

challenges among students of selected municipalities of Maguindanao.

The formula shows below:

X=⅀FX/N

Where, F stands for Frequency, X stands for the numbers of item and N

stands for the number of the respondents.

 CHAPTER IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

This chapter presents the results, analysis, and interpretation of

the following; Part (1) Socio-demographic of the respondents, Part (2)

Causes of early marriage perceive by the respondents, Part (3) Challenges

encountered by the respondents.

Socio-demographic of the respondents

Analysis

The table 1 shows the socio-demographic of the respondents in

terms of Age, Sex, Tribe, Year level.

Age

In terms of Age, 20 or 66.7% respondents were 17-19 years old, 10

or 33.3%, respondents were 20-23 years old. It implied that the most

respondents of this study were approximately teenager.

 Sex

In terms of Sex, 24 or 80.0% of the respondents were female, 6 or

20% of the respondents were male. Means it implied that the most

respondents of this research were female.

Religion

In terms of religion, out of 30 respondents or 100%, 29 or 96.7%

respondents were Islam, 1 or 3.3% respondents were other. It implied

that the majority of the respondents of this study were Islam.

Year Level

In terms of Year level, 10, or 33,3% respondents were grade 12,8 or

26.7% respondents were both grade 11&9,3 or 10% respondents were

grade 10, 1 or 3.3% respondents were college. It implied that the most

respondents of this study were 33.3% or grade 12.

Table 1. Socio-demographic of the respondents

CHARACTERISTICS FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE

Age
17-19 20 66.7%
20-23 10 33.3%
Sex
Female 24 80%
Male 6 20%
Religion
Islam 29 96.7%
Other 1 3.3%
Year level
Grade 9 8 26.7%
Grade 10 3 10%
Grade 11 8 26.7%
Grade 12 10 33.3%
College 1 3.3%

Causes of early marriage to the respondents

Table 2 shows that the respondents "Strongly agreed" that they

were Marrying to provides their family security (3.73), and lack of

guidance (3.73) Furthermore, the respondents "Agreed" that they were

increase their family members (3.33), lack of education (3.06), getting

marriage to keep their dignity and honor to their family (3.00) and lack of

opportunities in their community to organize their safety as a teenager

(2.66).

However, the respondents "Disagreed" that they were that causes

of early marriage was economical issues and Poverty (2.23) and lack of

knowledge about early marriage. The results implied that the majority
causes of early marriage were Lack of guidance, and marrying to provide

their family security. According to Nawal (2006), Poverty plays a central

role in perpetuating child marriage; Parents want to ensure their

daughter’s financial security. Furthermore, (Soares, 2015) emphasized

that early marriage have consequences for many aspects of young

people’s lives—their health, education employment opportunities and

overall general well-being

Table2. Causes of early marriage to the respondents
STATEMENT WEIGHT QUANTITATIVE
MEAN DESCRIPTION
Marrying you provides your family 3.73 Strongly agreed
security.
Lack of guidance. 3.73 Strongly Agreed
To increase your family members. 3.33 Agreed
lack of education 3.06 Agreed
You’re getting marriage to keep 3.00 Agreed
their dignity and honor to their
family.
Lack of opportunities in their 2.66 Agreed
community to organize their safety
as a teenager.
Economical and Poverty 2.23 Disagreed

Lack of knowledge about early 2.16 Disagreed

marriage.
Culture and traditional 2.01 Disagreed

WEIGHTED MEAN 2.87 Agreed

Challenges encountered by the respondents

Table 3 shows, out of 30 respondents 3.76 that they do not have a

properly job to support their family, and they were adolescent pregnant

(2.73), furthermore, the respondents also emphasized (2.50) that they

were having family problem after the marriage.

 The table means, that the results implied that the most frequent

challenges encountered by the respondents were they do not have a

properly job to support their family, adolescent pregnancy and family

problem. These findings was supported by Mathura (2003) and (Clark

2004) as they stated that under developed physiology, lack of

information, low esteem and less awareness is leading young females to

the high risk of material mortality and mobility as compared to the young

females who are married after the age 20.

Table 3 Challenges encountered by the respondents

STATEMENT MEAN

Do not have a properly job to 3.76

support your family.

Adolescent Pregnant 2.73

Family Problem 2.50

WEIGHTED MEAN 3.00

 CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATION

This chapter discussed the summary, summary of the findings

conclusion and recommendation of this study.

The study is entitled “Early marriage; Causes and its challenges

among students of selected municipalities of Maguindanao”. It was

conducted to. Identify the characteristic of the respondents. In terms of;

Age, sex, religion, year level, determine the causes of early marriage to

the respondents, identify the challenges of the early marriage

respondents. In terms of; Financial problem, immature pregnancy, family

problem.

The study used quota allocation 10 respondents in three selected

municipalities of Maguindanao focused on Early marriage; it’s challenges

among students of selected municipalities of Maguindanao.

Frequency counts, percentage and weighted mean was used in

describing the data gathering.

The following are the summary of the major findings of this study

1) The majority respondents of this study were the age of 18-19 years

old, 66.7%, were female, 96.7%, were Islam, remaining 33.3% were

grade 12.

2) Respondents were strongly agreed that they were Lack of guidance,

marrying to provides their family security. Respondents were

Agreed that they marry in an early age to Increase their family

members, lack of education, getting marriage to keep their dignity

and honor to their family, lack of opportunities in their community

to organize their safety as a teenager, were some of the main

causes of early marriage to the respondents.

3) Do not have properly job to support their family, adolescent

pregnant and family problem, were the most frequent challenges

on early marriage by the respondents.

Base on the results of the study; the following conclusions

Marrying to provide their family security, and Increase their

family members, were the main causes of the respondent’s on early

marriage. This issues were actually existing in other parts of the

 world, where some women are forced to marry for the sake of

obedience to theirs parents (Klough, 2013). Moreover, in the recent

study of (Sulaiman, 2017) poverty is one of the reasons of

increasing number of early marriage in Pakistan.

On the other hand, do not have a proper job to support their

family, were the main challenges encountered by the respondents

on early marriage. According to (Ruju, et al, 2005) as they stated in

their research, physiological, psychological and economic problems

are the main problem of early marriage incidents in India.

Based on the result and conclusion, the following are the

recommendation of the research

1. To empowerment the teenager with information, skills and support

to enhance them to access a high- quality of education.

2. To conduct awareness and prevention campaign like those

undertaken like this situation on early marriage.

3. To give them opportunities to support their family, and providing

counseling, medical, psychological health, and education.

4. A further study to conduct for future learners to be able to

understand and to give them a lot of information about early

marriage.