INTRODUCTION:

I've always held that early marriage is a sure indication of, Second-rate goods that had to be sold in hurry.

-Martin Harris

Marriage is a social institution that unites people in a special form of mutual dependence for the purpose of founding and maintaining a family. As a social practice entered into through a public act, religious or traditional ceremony, it reflects the purpose, characters or customs of the society in which it is found. Many societies have norms that limits the age of young girls to enter into marriage, but in some cases the age limit does not take into consideration their physical readiness for childbearing^{. 1}

Marriages before the age of 18 are the reality for many young women. In many parts of 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 on the family.

Early marriage, better known as child marriage is defined as marriage carried below the age of 18 years, before the girl is physically, physiologically and psychologically ready to shoulder the responsibilities of marriage and childbearing.” Early marriage means also the individual becomes sexually active early, raising children while children themselves. The marriage of a young girl affects not only her life but that of the children she will bear^{. 2}

Child marriage and the betrothal of girls and boys shall be prohibited and effective action, including legislation, shall be taken to specify the minimum age of marriage to be 18 years and make registration of all marriages in an official registry compulsory

Early marriage of children, particularly the girl child, is not an uncommon practice in over 40 countries, mainly in Sub- Sahara Africa and south and south East Asia, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

A significant number of these countries are signatories to various international conventions and have guaranteed various rights of children, including the prescription of the legal minimum marriage at 18.⁴

Several states of India have introduced incentives to delay marriages. For example, the state of Haryana introduced the so-called Apni Beti, Apna Dhan program in 1994, which translates to "My daughter, My wealth". It is a conditional cash transfer program dedicated to delaying young marriages by providing a government paid bond in her name, payable to her parents, in the amount of 25,000 (US$350), after her 18th birthday if she is not married^.⁹

A present study was aimed to assess the knowledge of the early marriage among parents and what is their attitude towards the early marriage. The results of the study will show the clear picture of parents knowledge and attitude and will motivate to take proper action. A proper information of early marriage will reduce cause of early marriage and prevent early marriage.

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

Marriage is a social institution that unites people in a special form of mutual dependence for the purpose of founding and maintaining a family. As a social practice entered into through a public act, religious or traditional ceremony, it reflects the purposes, character, and customs of the society in which it is found. Many societies have norms that limit the age of young girls to enter into marriage, but in some cases the age limit does not take into consideration their physiological readiness for childbearing.¹¹

Early marriage is the marriage of children and adolescents below the age of 18. Among those marrying early, some are forced into this union, others are simply too young to make an informed decision. Throughout the world, marriage is regarded as a moment of celebration and a milestone in adult life. Sadly the practice of early marriage gives no such cause for celebration. All too often, the imposition of a marriage partner upon a child means that a girl or boy’s childhood is cut short and their fundamental rights are compromised. ¹¹

According to the news report published in the leading newspapers of the world, each year there are around 80 million unwanted pregnancies, out of which 30 millions of these are aborted. There are so many social and psychological causes leading to teenage pregnancies all over the globe. Early marriage of the teenagers is one of the main reasons for teenage pregnancies. Lack of proper sex education and counseling as well as poverty can be the major reasons as well5. Furthermore, reports indicate that nearly 7% of girls were found to be married before reaching the age of 10 years.¹⁰

Complications of teenage pregnancy and delivery are the main causes of death for girls aged 15 to 19. Each year almost 5.5 million girls aged 15 to 19 give birth. They have higher levels of unwanted pregnancy and more than one billion have unsafe abortion (WHO, 2004). Mortality and morbidity rates are higher among infants born to young mothers; especially those under 15 years have higher rates of premature labour, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, and low birth weight infants (Demographic and health survey, 2006.¹¹

Early marriage is the most common problem in rural areas. Many physically and psychologically, socially consequences face girls, boys as well as their parents. if parents have proper knowledge and attitude about early marriage so they can prevent causes of early marriage. So the investigator has planned to assess the knowledge and attitude of parents regarding early marriage so that it could enhance their knowledge and positive attitude.

STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM:

“A correlational study to analyze the knowledge and attitude towards early marriage among parents at selected rural areas, kolhapur district.”

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. To analyze the knowledge and attitude towards early marriage among parents.

2. To find out correlation between knowledge scores and attitude scores towards early marriage among parents.

3. To find out an association between knowledge scores towards early marriage among parents with their selected socio-demographic variables.

4. To find out an association between attitude scores towards early marriage among parents with their selected socio-demographic variables.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS:

1. Analyze: In present study, it refers to organized, systematic and continues process of gathering information regarding knowledge and attitude towards early marriage among parents by using structured knowledge questionnaire and attitude scale.

2. Early marriage: In present study, it refers to marriage of a girl before 18 years of age and marriage of a boy before 21 years of age.

3. Parents: In present study, it refers to couples who will be having children between 10-21 years of age.

4. Knowledge: In this study, it refers to awareness of parents towards early marriage which will be assessed by their responses with using structured knowledge questionnaires.

5. Attitude: In the present study, it refers to expression of feeling, behavior or thoughts towards early marriage among parents which will be assessed by using structured attitude scale.

Assumption:

The study assumes that most of the parents will have knowledge regarding early marriage and will have appropriate attitude towards early marriage.

Delimitation:

The study is limited to the 100 parents at rural area of Kolhapur district

Conceptual Framework:

Modified Fied Rosen Stock’s And Becker (1974) Health Belief Model

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

A cross -sectional, observational study was conducted to assess the prevalence of early marriage and the associations between early marriage and women's fertility and fertility-control outcomes in India 2005-06. Analyses were restricted to women age 20-24 years (n= 22,807) and subsample of ever married women aged 20-24 years (n=14,628). The study findings showed 44.5% of women aged 20-24 years were married before age 18 years, 22.6% were married before age 16 years and 2.6% were married before age 13 years. Early marriage was significantly associated with no contraceptive use before first child birth (95%), high fertility (three or more births) (7.40%), a repeat child birth in less than 24 months (3%), multiple unwanted pregnancies (2.36%), pregnancy termination (1.48%), and female sterilization (6.68%). The study concluded that improved family-planning education, access, and support are urgently needed for women married as earlier, their husbands, and their families to reduce the high fertility and poor fertility-control outcomes of this practice.

A descriptive study was conducted by Susheela singh and Renee samara to determine early marriage among women in developing countries. Data was obtained from 40 demographic and health surveys revealed that a substantial (The sample included 61) proportion of women in developing countries continue to marry as adolescents. The study findings revealed that: 20-50% of women marries or enters a union by age 18, and 40-70% does so by their 20th birthday. Early marriage most prevalent common in North Africa, middle east and southeast asia. Women aged 20-24 are less likely to get married by age 20 than are women aged 40-44; the differential is at least 10 % points in most countries and reaches 30-40% points in some countries. Education and age at first marriage are strongly associated both at the individual level and at the societal level. Thus study concluded that a woman who has attended secondary school is considerably less likely to marry during adolescence, and in countries with a higher proportion of women with a secondary education, the proportion of women who marry as adolescents is lower.

A cross sectional study was conducted among women residing in urban slums of Nandyal. Anin-depth interview was conducted with 30 pre-identified married women of reproductive age (15–49 years). The criteria for selection of participants was those woman who married before the age of 18 years (child marriage) and married for at least 5 years and had at least one child birth. Reasons for setting the said selection criteria were to make sure that the interviewee had a prenatal and postnatal experience that they have spent a considerable time in marital union. Among 30 participants the mean age of child marriage is 14 years. Mean age at first child birth is 15years. Majority (86.7%) were stopped education after marriage. According to Modified Kuppuswamy class 63.3% were belong to upper lower class and13.3%lower class. Almost (56.7%) unaware of appropriate age for marriage. Majority (73.3%) are unaware of negative consequences of child marriage. Most of the marriages are consanguineous (40%). Majority (60%) are home deliveries and pre term deliveries (46%). Majority (73.3%) are opposing child marriage and 26.7% are supporting child marriage and having future intention 60% satisfied with their married life and 40% participants are having conflicts. Raising the level of awareness about negative outcomes of child marriage by intensifying the health education (IEC) activities. In this modern society the child marriages are following because of the customs and traditions followed in the community. Home deliveries are more which utmost leads to danger to the mother and child.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

Research approach:

A descriptive survey approach was used to assess the knowledge and attitude of parents regarding early marriage.

Research design:

A descriptive correlative design was adopted for the present study to find out the relationship between knowledge score and attitude score of parents regarding.

Variable under study:

Variables in this study are knowledge and and attitude of parents regarding early marriage and other demographic variables included are such as age in years of mothers and age in year of fathers, religion, type of family, Mothers education, fathers education, occupation of mothers, occupation of fathers, monthly income in rupees, age at marriage of mothers, age at marriage of fathers, total number of children, number of female child, number of male child.

Setting of the study:

The investigator had selected at Gad-Mudshingi rural area of Kolhapur district. The area is approximately 10 kilometers away from the college.

Population:

The population in the study comprised of parents residing in selected at Gad-Mudshingi rural area of Kolhapur district.

In this study the sample comprises of 100 parents.

Sampling technique:

The non-probability, purposive sampling technique was used to select the samples for the present study.

Description of the tool:

To conduct the study, two tools were prepared:

Tool I: The structured questionnaire to assess the knowledge of parents regarding early marriage. It consisted of 2 parts:

Part I: Demographic data: It consisted age in years of mothers and age in year of fathers, religion, type of family, Mothers education, fathers education, occupation of mothers, occupation of fathers, monthly income in rupees, age at marriage of mothers, age at marriage of fathers, total number of children, number of female child, number of male child.

Part II: It consisted of structured knowledge questionnaire regarding early marriage. Totally the structured knowledge questionnaire consisted of 21 items each of it are scored. Each correct answer was given a score of one and wrong answerers score was zero. The total possible score of the structured knowledge questionnaire was 21.

Tool II: The attitude scale was developed for assessing the attitude of parents regarding early marriage. It had 20 items, out of these, 10 items were positive and 10 items were negative. Arbitrary classification on grading of attitude score was done as ‘Strongly Agree’, ‘Agree’, ‘uncertain’, ‘Disagree’, and ‘Strongly Disagree’.

Ethical Issue:

1. Permission was obtained from concerned authorities.

2. Permission was obtained from grampanchayat of the of Gud-mudshingi, Kolhapur district.

3. A written informed consent was obtained from parents who participated in the study.

Reliability:

Reliability of the tool was assessed by administering the tool to 30 parents who were residing in Gud-mudshingi, Kolhapur. The reliability coefficient of rating scale and attitude scale was computed using split-half method and Karl Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The reliability was found to be 0.72 for the knowledge rating scale and 0.78 for the attitude scale. Hence the tool was found to be reliable.

RESULTS:

Major findings of the study:

Finding related to demographic variable of third trimester antenatal mothers:

Majority of mothers 34(34%) belonged to the age group of 31-40 years (Fig.1). Majority of fathers 45(45%) belonged to the age group of 31-40 years (Fig.2). Majority of subjects 77(77%) were from Hindu religion (Fig.3). Majority of subjects 58(58%) belonged to joint family (Fig.4). Majority of fathers 45(45%) had primary education (Fig.5). Majority of mothers 60(60%) were illiterate (Fig.6). Majority of fathers 40(40%) were having service (Fig.7). Majority of mothers 70(70%) were housewife (Fig.8). Majority of subjects 42(42%) had Rs.10,000/- 15000/- monthly income (Fig.9). Majority of mothers 58(58%) married below 18 years of age(Fig.10). Majority of fathers 55(55%) married at the age of 24 to 28 yrs(Fig.11). Majority of subjects 65(65%) were having 3-4 children (Fig.13). Majority of subjects 45(45%) had 0-1number of male child(Fig.14).

Figure 1: Column diagram showing the distribution of mother according to their age in year

Figure 2: Cylindrical diagram showing the distribution of fathers according to their age in year

Figure 3: Column diagram showing the distribution of the subjects according to their religion.

Figure 4: Conical diagram showing the distribution of the subjects according to their type of family.

Figure 5: Conical diagram showing the distribution of fathers according to their type education.

Figure 6: Bar diagram showing the distribution of mothers according to their education.

Figure 7: Pie diagram showing the distribution of fathers according to their occupation

Figure 8: Bar diagram showing the distribution of the mother according to their occupation

Figure 9: Pyramid diagram showing the distribution of the subjects according to their of monthly family income in rupees.

Figure 10: Pyramid diagram showing the distribution of mother according to their age at marriage.

Figure 11: Pie diagram showing the distribution of the fathers according to their age at marriage.

Figure 12: Bar diagram showing the distribution of the subjects according to their number of childern.

Figure 13: Pie diagram showing the distribution of the subjects according to their number of female child.

Figure 14: Cone diagram showing the distribution of the subjects according to their number of male child.

Table 1: Findings related to frequency and percentage distribution of knowledge scores of subjects regarding early marriage. n=100

Knowledge score	Frequency (f)	Percentage (%)
Poor (0-7)	3	3
Average (8-14)	86	86
Good (15-21)	11	11

The above table-1 indicates that majority of the subjects 86(86%) had average knowledge and minimum 3(3%) had poor knowledge and 11(11%) had good knowledge.

Figure 15: Cylindrical diagram showing the distribution of the subjects according to their knowledge scores.

Table 2: Findings related to frequency and percentage distribution of attitude scores of subjects regarding early marriage. n=100

Attitude score	Frequency (f)	Percentage (%)
Positive attitude
(61-100)	87	87
Negative attitude
(20-60)	13	13

Table 2 Indicates that majority of subjects had 87(87%) Positive attitude score and minimum have 13(13%) Negative attitude score.

Figure 16: Column diagram showing the distribution of the subjects according to their attitude scores

Table 3: Findings related to Mean, Median, Mode, Range and Standard Deviation of knowledge scores of subjects regarding early marriage. n=100

Area of analysis	Mean	Median	Mode	Standard deviation	Range
Knowledge score	11.79	12	10	2.25	11

Table 3: Indicates that,

· In knowledge score, Mean was 11.79, Median was12 and Mode was10. Standard deviation was 2.25 Range was 11.

Figure17: Linear diagram showing distribution knowledge score of Mean, Median, Mode, Standard Deviation, Range of subjects towards early marriage.

Table 4: Mean, Median, Mode, Range and Standard Deviation of attitude scores of subjects towards early marriage. n=100

Area of analysis

Attitude score

Mean

Median

Mode

Standard deviation

Range

69.35

7.08

Table 4: indicates that, In attitude score the Mean was 69.35, Mode was 69 and Median was 69, standard deviation was 7.08, Range was 31.

Figure 18: Linear diagram showing distribution attitude score of Mean, Median, Mode, Standard Deviation, Range of subjects towards early marriage.

Table 5: Finding related to correlation between knowledge scores and attitude scores towards early marriage of subjects. n=100

	Karl Pearson Correlation Value
Calculated value	Tabulated value	Df
0.821*	0.152	98

Table 5: indicated that, the calculated correlation value was (t_cal=0.821) greater than tabulated value (t_tab=o.152).

Figure 19: Scattered diagram showing distribution of subjects regarding correlation between knowledge and attitude score towards early marriage.

Karl Pearson’s Coefficient of Correlation was used to find the correlation between the knowledge and attitude score of parents regarding early marriage. Therefore the findings revealed that there was moderate positive correlation between knowledge score and attitude score towards early marriage. This showed that knowledge and attitude was correlated to each other. Hence H₁ is accepted. This indicated that there was a moderate positive correlation between knowledge and attitude which was statistically significant at p<0.05 level, regarding early marriage.

Association between knowledge scores towards early marriage among subjects with their selected socio-demographic variables:

In parents there was significant association between knowledge scores and selected socio demographic variables like age in years of mothers [χ2 cal= 5.526, χ2tab= 12.59], age in year of fathers [χ2cal= 6.404, χ2tab=12.59], religion [χ2cal= 6.517, χ2tab=12.59], type of family[χ2cal= 6.585, χ2tab=9.490], education of fathers [χ2cal= 3.4857, χ2tab=12.59], education of mothers [χ2cal= 4.1456, χ2tab=12.59],occupation of fathers [χ2cal= 17.227*, χ2tab=12.59], occupation of mothers [χ2cal= 10.396, χ2tab=12.59], monthly income of family [χ2cal= 4.446, χ2tab= 12.59], age at marriage of mothers [χ2cal= 3.881, χ2tab=12.59], age at marriage of fathers [χ2cal= 2.772, χ2tab=12.59], total number of children [χ2cal= 13.95, χ2tab=9.490], total number of male children [χ2cal= 5.572, χ2tab=9.490], total number of female children [χ2cal= 4.769, χ2tab=9.490] The calculated Chi-square values were greater than tabulated value at p < 0.05 level of significance. Hence H₂ is accepted

Association between attitude scores towards early marriage among subjects with their selected socio-demographic variables:

There was significant association between attitude scores and selected socio demographic variables like age in years of mothers [χ2 cal= 2.114, χ2tab= 7.82], age in year of fathers [χ2cal= 2.406, χ2tab=7.82], religion [χ2cal= 2.249, χ2tab=7.82], type of family[ χ2cal= 0.521, χ2tab=5.99], education of fathers [χ2cal= 23.16*, χ2tab=7.82], education of mothers [χ2cal= 10.306*, χ2tab=7.82],occupation of fathers [χ2cal= 7.383, χ2tab=7.82], occupation of mothers [χ2cal= 1.406, χ2tab=7.82], monthly income of family [χ2cal= 38.713*, χ2tab= 7.82], age at marriage of mothers [χ2cal= 19.333*, χ2tab=7.82], age at marriage of fathers [χ2cal= 2.342, χ2tab=7.82], total number of children [χ2cal= 7.318*, χ2tab=5.99], total number of male children [χ2cal= 37.593, χ2tab=5.99], total number of female children [χ2cal= 5.051, χ2tab=5.99] The calculated Chi-square values were greater than tabulated value at p < 0.05 level of significance. Hence H₃is accepted.

NURSING IMPLICATION:

The findings of the study have implications on various fields of nursing.

Nursing practice:

Nursing practice includes preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative services. The present information is used as a tool for the staff nurses as it is essential for nurses to know about new consequences of early marriage so that they can give health education to parents, mothers and adolescent group. This will help to prevent early marriage. Health education is an important tool of healthcare agency. It is one of the most cost-effective interventions. It is concerned with promoting health as well as reducing the risk of complications. In the present study there was gap between existing and expected levels of knowledge of parents which indicated need for education regarding early marriage.

Nursing Administration:

In-service educational programmed can be organized on awareness of early marriage. This will upgrade the nurses knowledge in their clinical practice and to conduct health educational programmed. Well prepared material like Informational Booklet and power point presentation can be utilized by nurses in guiding sub ordinates. Ongoing workshops or regular in-service education programmed can be organized by nurse administrator for staff nurses to upgrade the knowledge regarding early marriage.

Nursing research:

The findings of the study serve as a basis for the professional and the student nurses to conduct further studies on early marriage. The study will motivate the initial researchers to conduct the same study on large scale and the study will be a reference for the research scholars.

LIMITATIONS:

· The study was limited to parents.

· The study was limited to rural area, Kolhapur district.

· The study included only some of the selected socio-demographic variables such as age in years of mother and age in year of father, religion, type of family, Education of mother, Education of father, occupation of mother, occupation of father, monthly income in rupees, age at marriage of mother, age at marriage of father, total number of children, number of female child, number of male child.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

· Having become familiar with the problems faced during the study and keeping the limitations in view, the following recommendations are offered for further research.

· The study can be replicated in school and urban areas.

· A comparative study can be conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude of rural and urban areas parents.

· A study can be conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude anganwadi workers on causes of early marriage.

CONCLUSIONS:

The present study revealed that majority of parents had average knowledge on early marriage and most of parents had positive attitude. Therefore it was concluded that there is need to increase the knowledge regarding early marriage and negative attitude towards early marriage in some parents.

REFERENCES:

1. A Addis. Report on causes and consequences of early marriage in Amhara region. Ethiopia: Pathfinder International Publisher; July 2006.69p

2. G Mahadeb, M Biswaranjan. The Vicious cucle between low literacy and early marriage in agro-based economy: A case study in Nadia district, West Bengal. International Multidisciplinary Research Journal. 2015;5(1):1

3. Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children.[Internet]. 10 September 2016. Available https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InterAfrican Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children

4. J. B. Auradkar. Child Marriage In India: An Overview. Review of Research.2013;2(1)

5. N Shehzad. Early Marriage: A Harmful Traditional Practice. UNICEF; April 2005.40p

6. L Anthony. Child Marriages: 39,000 Every Day [Internet]. UNICEF New York. March 2013 [updated 7 March 2013; 2015 May 15].

7. M.Sunil, A. Deepti. Adolescent Health Determinants for Pregnancy and Child Health Outcomes among the Urban Poor. Indian Pediatrics - Environmental Health Project.2004;41: 137-145

8. 8. Kounteya Sinha. Nearly 50% fall in brides married below 18. The Times of India. Feb 10, 2012. Available: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india

9. E. Loaiza Sr. and S.Wong, “Marrying too young. End child marriage,” 2012 http://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/ MarryingTooYoung.pdf.

Received on 05.07.2023 Modified on 14.08.2023

A and V Pub Int. J. of Nursing and Medical Res. 2023; 2(4):121-129.

DOI: 10.52711/ijnmr.2023.29