Understanding Child Marriage in Ghana: The Constructions of Gender and Sexuality and Implications for Married Girls

ABSTRACT

Child marriage is the practice of marrying an individual below 18 years. The drivers of this practice include poverty, gender inequality, cultural and religious norms among others. While Ghana is one of many countries worldwide in which child marriage is practised, the literature on cultural underpinnings and implications of the practice in Ghana is sparse. This paper aims to discuss how constructions of adolescence, gender and sexuality in Ghana affect the practice of child marriage. It further examines the implications of child marriage for married girls and argues for research into the causes and mental health implications of the practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Ghana
• child marriage
• gender inequality
• mental health
• sexual and reproductive health
• adolescent health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This paper is part of the doctoral dissertation of the first author that is sponsored by the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Notes on contributors

Elizabeth Anokyewaa Sarfo

Elizabeth Anokyewaa Sarfo obtained her Ph.D. in Psychology at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Her research interests are on the psychological well-being of children and adolescents, African personality and the influence of religion on the well-being of individuals.

Joana Salifu Yendork

Joana Salifu Yendork, Ph.D., is a Lecturer at the Department of Psychology, University of Ghana. She obtained her Ph.D. in Psychology from Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Her research interests focus broadly on the wellbeing of vulnerable children and adolescents and positive psychology. She has published widely on vulnerable children and adolescents, religion and positive psychology.

Anthony Vernon Naidoo

Anthony Vernon Naidoo is a distinguished professor in community psychology at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa with a strong background in counselling and community psychology. He obtained his Ph.D. in counselling psychology from Ball State University. His research interests focus on applied community psychology, Eco psychology, wilderness therapy and career psychology and work-related behaviour.