Ankara'nın Seçilmiş Mahallelerindeki 24-60 Yaş Arası Erkeklerin Çocuk Yaşta Evlilikler Konusundaki Bazı Tutum ve Algıları

Abstract

This study aims to determine some attitudes and perceptions of 24-60 age group men on child marriages in three neighborhoods with different socioeconomic status in Ankara and contribute to the development of evidence based interventions targeting men for prevention of child marriages. Data was collected from 500 men in each neighborhood through a questionnaire. The median age of first marriage increases both among men and their wives as the socioeconomic status improves. From low socioeconomic status to high, respectively 3.2%, 1.3% and 0.2% of men agree women can marry before the age of 18. Men with low and medium socioeconomic status believe “marriage” is the most important experience in women’s lives (low: 69.2% and medium: 74.2%), whereas “marriage” comes at the fifth place (67.8%) among men with high socioeconomic status. Men with low socioeconomic status find marriage of their children under 18 more acceptable compared to the men with high socioeconomic status. These findings confirm that socioeconomic status is an important determinant of child marriages, men have an important role in making marriage decisions and there are disparities in gender perspective among different socioeconomic levels. Interventions which target various male groups (such as adolescents, fathers, community and religious leaders, law enforcement officials and health workers) are needed. Similar research can be repeated with larger groups, at national level, supported with qualitative studies.