The challenges faced by the community in addressing early marriages: A case study of Namwiwa Subcounty, Kaliro District

Abstract

Due to the consequences of early marriages, multiple strategies have been put forward to address the practice of early marriages. Unfortunately, these have registered limited success as the practice remains prevalent in the communities. The study was aimed at finding out the challenges faced by the community in addressing early marriages in Namwiwa Sub County Kaliro District. The focus was mainly; to examine the challenges faced by the community in addressing early marriages, to examine the problems faced by community institutions in addressing early marriages, and to find out why the local leaders are failing to address early marriages. The study adopted an exploratory research design and was purely qualitative. Data were collected from young mothers and the community members (primary respondents) and the key informants who included the officer in charge (OC), the community development officer, local chair persons, health workers, the Head teacher, Parish Chief, and Town Counsellor (secondary respondents). The study results showed parents' mindset, the environment, the culture and norms, poverty, and cultural, traditional and gender inequalities are one of the challenges the community is facing in addressing early marriages. In addition, the possible solutions to the challenges in addressing early marriages included change in community and parents' mindset about education, poverty eradication, and the legal laws as the predominate solutions. The study recommends that the community should work together as a team to reduce early marriages, there should be sensitization and creating awareness among families and communities about the negative impacts of early marriages, and NGOs should extend their services in remote areas.