DOI Number: 10.5958/0976-5506.2018.00993.

Early Marriage and Its Relationship with Child Development

Ayling Sanjaya1, Moersintowarti B. Narendra2, Irwanto2, Ahmad Suryawan2, Mira Irmawati2,

Ferry Efendi3
1
Faculty of Medicine, Wijaya Kusuma University, Surabaya; 2Faculty of Medicine, 3Faculty of Nursing,
Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya

ABSTRACT
Background: Early marriage is still a problem in the world, especially in developing countries including
Indonesia. The problem of early marriage in Indonesia takes place both in urban and rural areas with diverse
population economic status.
Objective: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between early marriage and child development.
Method: 7KLV VWXG\ XVHG D FURVVVHFWLRQDO DSSURDFK GHVLJQ 7KH LQGHSHQGHQW YDULDEOH LQ WKLV UHVHDUFK
was early marriage, while the dependent variable in this research was the development of the child. The
population in this research was all toddlers residing in a region of Situbondo Regency.
The total sample was 67 respondents who got married when 18 years old or younger. Data were collected
WKURXJKTXHVWLRQQDLUHVDQGPHDVXUHPHQWVRIKHLJKWZHLJKWDQGQXWULWLRQDOVWDWXVDQGSURJUHVVZDVDVVHVVHG
WKURXJKLQWHUYLHZVDQGWKH'HQYHU'HYHORSPHQW6FUHHQLQJ7HVW''67,,'DWDZHUHDQDO\]HGZLWKWKH
Pearson correlation test with p < 0.05.
Results: Early marriage has no association with child growth but it has a relationship with child development.
,Q WKLV VWXG\ WKHUH ZDV D VLJQL¿FDQW UHODWLRQVKLS IRXQG EHWZHHQ HDUO\ PDUULDJH RI WKH PRWKHU DQG FKLOG
GHYHORSPHQWS7KHULVNRIDFKLOGH[SHULHQFLQJGHYHORSPHQWDOGLVRUGHUVZKHQWKHPRWKHUPDUULHV
early was found to be 62 times compared to mothers who married at an early age.
Conclusion: Early marriage does not cause growth disorders of children, but early marriage has the potential
WRFDXVHGHOD\LQFKLOGGHYHORSPHQW(DUO\FKLOGELUWKGRHVQRWFDXVHJURZWKGLVRUGHUVRIFKLOGUHQ:RPHQ
ZKRH[SHULHQFHGHDUO\FKLOGELUWKPLJKWFDXVHJHQHUDOGHYHORSPHQWDOGHOD\VLQFKLOGUHQ

Keyword: early marriage childhood, child development, child growth.

INTRODUCTION 2012.6 Although many countries have decided on a legal

Early marriage remains a problem especially in
developing countries like Indonesia.1–3 The latest data
released in the year 2017 show that the prevalence of early
marriage is high.4 Previous data showed that Indonesia
ranks second as the country with the highest rates of child
marriage among ASEAN Countries.5 Average births to
DGROHVFHQWV DJHG  \HDUV LQ ,QGRQHVLD LQFUHDVHG
from 35 per 1,000 live births in 2007 to 45 per 1,000 in
Corresponding Author:
Ferry Efendi
Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya
(PDLOIHUU\H#INSXQDLUDFLG
minimum age of marriage of 18, Indonesia is struggling
to change its policy.4 The problem of early marriage
is a classic problem faced in Indonesia, considering
the marriage rule has been legalized since 1974.7 The
increasing number of adolescents who give birth might
be correlated with the increased phenomenon of early
marriage in some areas.5
Physical and psychological development of
immature babies at an early age causes health and social
problems.8 Some of the problems in child marriage
include factors that encourage the marriage of children,
WKHLU H൵HFW RQ HGXFDWLRQ WKH RFFXUUHQFH RI GRPHVWLF
violence, the impact on reproductive health, childbirth
and child psychological health, and legal views related to
child marriage.9 Indonesia has been gradually improving
 194 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, September 2018, Vol.9, No. 9

its maternal health services across the nation.10–13 Table 1: Demographic characteristics of the
+RZHYHU VRPH RI WKH WDUJHWV DUH EHKLQG WUDFN LQ WKH respondents (n = 67)
national development such as maternal mortality,6 child
mortality and early marriage prevalence.14,15 Characteristics n % SD
Gender of Child
Research related to the relationship between early
Male 37 55.2
marriage and child growth and development is still very
limited and more research on growth and social aspects Female 30 44.8
is needed.16lower educated people, and rural residents. &KLOG¶V$JHPRQWKPHDQ
Females, more educated people and rural\nresidents enter 28.21 16.50
6'
¿UVWPDUULDJHVRRQHUIROORZLQJLQWHUFRXUVHLQLWLDWLRQWKDQ
0RWKHU¶V$JH\HDUPHDQ
their corresponding\ncounterparts. People who engage 26.48 6.12
6'
ZLWK SUHPDULWDO VH[XDO LQWHUFRXUVH HQWHU ¿UVW PDUULDJH
later\nthan their counterparts. The long time span to Age of married mother
18.51 5.17
¿UVW PDUULDJH IROORZLQJ SUHPDULWDO VH[XDO?QLQWHUFRXUVH \HDUPHDQ6'
initiation needs to be addressed and considered in the $JHRIPRWKHU\HDUPHDQ
current policy which is to\naccommodate comprehensive 21.58 5.04
6'
VH[XDO UHSURGXFWLYH KHDOWK 65+  7KH SXUSRVH RI WKLV Mother’s education
study was to analyze the relationship between early
marriage and child growth and development. Didn’t complete Elementary
1 1.5
School
Completed Elementary
METHOD 37 55.2
School
7KLVVWXG\GHVLJQZDVFURVVVHFWLRQDOZLWKFKLOGUHQ *UDGXDWHGIURPMXQLRUKLJK
all under 5 years old born to an early married couple 7 10.4
school
ZKHQOHVVWKDQRUHTXDOWR\HDUVRIDJH7KHLQFOXVLRQ
Graduated from senior high
criteria of this study were adolescent marriages having 21 31.3
school
children under 5 years old. The independent variable in
this research was early marriage, while the dependent )DWKHU¶VDJH\HDUPHDQ
31.55 6.67
variable was the growth and development of the child. 6'
Growth in this study was measured by nutritional status $JHRIPDUULHGIDWKHU\HDU
23.21 5.50
DVD:+%%]VFRUHSORW PHDQ6'
Parameters assessed in regard to child development Father’s Education
were collected using DDST II. Selection of the sample was Didn’t complete Elementary
2 3.0
undertaken by total random sampling in married couples School
who had children under 5 years old. Data were collected Completed Elementary
from couples with children in one of the community 37 55.2
School
health centers in Situbondo Regency, with permission
*UDGXDWHGIURPMXQLRUKLJK
from the local authority. This study has passed the 7 10.4
school
ethical clearance of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas
Airlangga, Surabaya. The data obtained are tabulated and Graduated from senior high
21 31.3
presented in the form of descriptive statistics and Pearson school
correlation statistics test at p < 0.05. Father’s Job
/DERU 6 9.0
RESULTS Farmer 29 43.3
+DOI RI WKH UHVSRQGHQWV ZHUH PDOH QXPEHULQJ  Private 18 26.9
 DQG   ZHUH IHPDOH ZLWK DQ DYHUDJH Employees 14 20.9
DJH RI  6'   PRQWKV 7KH PDWHUQDO DJH
DYHUDJHLQWKLVVWXG\ZDV6' \HDUVDQG 7KHUHVXOWVRIELYDULDWHDQDO\VLVRI”\HDUVDQG
the marriage age of mothers had a mean value of 18.51 !  \HDUV DPRQJ DGROHVFHQW PRWKHU OLVWHG LQ 7DEOH 
6' \HDUV below.
 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, September 2018, Vol.9, No. 9 195

Table 2: The relationship between maternal Table 3: The relationship between maternal
marriage age and the characteristics of the subjects marriage age and maternal birth age with child’s
nutritional status
”\HDUV > 18 years p
Gender Age of married mother
Male   ”\HDUV > 18 years p
0.682
Female   Nutritional status of children
Daily care taker Normal  
Mother   Skinny  0
Family 0.842 Risk of obese   0.393
  Fat  0
member
Mother’s education Very fat  
Didn’t Age of delivery mother
complete Nutritional status of children
 0 Normal  
Elementary
school Skinny  0
Completed Risk of obese   0.279
Elementary   Fat  
school <0.001 Very fat  
Graduated
In Table 4 it can be seen that the developmental
IURPMXQLRU  
high school VWDWXVRIWKHFKLOGDWWKHPDUULDJHDJHRIWKHPRWKHU”
Graduated  \HDUV DW PRVW LV WKH GHOD\ RI  FKLOGUHQ 
from senior   DQG WKH QRUPDO GHYHORSPHQW RI  FKLOGUHQ 
high school Mothers who married at the age of 18 years or more had
Mother’s Job all children with normal development, that is as many
+RXVHZLIH   0.758 DV  FKLOGUHQ  $QDO\VLV RI WKH UHODWLRQVKLS
Father’s Education between maternal marriage age and child development
Didn’t VWDWXVZDVIRXQGWRKDYHDVLJQL¿FDQWUHODWLRQVKLSZLWK
complete SYDOXHDQG25&,RI
 
Elementary The analysis of the relationship between maternal age
school and the developmental status of children showed a
Completed VLJQL¿FDQWUHODWLRQVKLSZLWKWKHSYDOXHRIDQG25
Elementary   &,RI
school <0.001
Graduated Table 4: The relationship of the marriage age of the
IURPMXQLRU   mother and the age of giving birth by the mother
high school
with child development
Graduated
IURPMXQLRU   Age of married mother
high school ”\HDUV > 18 years p
Father’s Job
Child development
/DERUHU  0
Delay  0
Farmer   <0.001
<0.001 Normal  
Private  
Employees   25&, 
Age of delivery mother
This study found that age at marriage and nutritional Child development
VWDWXVLVQRWVLJQL¿FDQWO\UHODWHGWRWKHDJHRIWKHPRWKHU
Delay  
7DEOH,QWKHVDPHYHLQDJHDWELUWKLVQRWVLJQL¿FDQWO\ 0.001
Normal  
related to child’s nutritional status.
25&, 
 196 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, September 2018, Vol.9, No. 9

DISCUSSION that are not meaningful in the sense that early marriage
and early childbirth do not cause growth disorders
Of the 67 children, the married mothers had an QXWULWLRQDOVWDWXVRIFKLOGUHQ7KLVLVOLNHO\GXHWRKLJK
DYHUDJH DJH RI  \HDUV 6'  \HDUV DQG WKH public awareness of the nutritional status of children
average marriage age of the father was 23.21 years and the role of cadres and health workers, as well as the
6'  \HDUV 7KLV LV LQ DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK WKH VWXG\
by Khaerul Umam that in couples who are married
at an early age, the husband is often older than the
wife.17 Establishment and economic security are one
of the reasons for choosing to marry young to a more
mature man but on the other hand it increases the risk of
GRPHVWLFYLROHQFHZKLFKLVH[SHULHQFHGE\\RXQJZLYHV
by an authoritarian husband.18
presence of other family members who participate in the
role of childcare.
In this study, all mothers were housewives so they
have plenty of time to take care of their children and to take
them for a child growth check at Posyandu. The mothers
DOVRHQWLUHO\H[FOXVLYHO\EUHDVWIHHGWKHLUFKLOG$OORIWKH
XQGHU¿YH \HDUV FKLOGUHQ LQ WKLV VWXG\ KDG D 7RZDUGV
+HDOWK&DUG.06DQGXQGHUJRUHJXODUO\ZHLJKLQJDW
Many factors lie behind the occurrence of early
Posyandu. Immunization is done on schedule until the
marriage, among which are low education, low
economic, customs and culture.19–22the literature reveals
gaps in the empirical evidence on the link between
child marriage and the dropout of girls from school.
7KLV VWXG\ LGHQWL¿HV WKH µWLSSLQJ SRLQW¶ VFKRRO JUDGHV
in Nepal when the risk of dropout due to marriage is
KLJKHVWPHDVXUHVWKHH൵HFWRIFKLOGPDUULDJHRQJLUOV¶
school dropout rates, and assesses associated risk factors.
:HLJKWHG SHUFHQWDJHV ZHUH FDOFXODWHG WR H[DPLQH WKH
grades at highest risk and the distribution of reasons
for discontinuing school. Using the Nepal Multiple
Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS In this research, most
mothers’ and fathers’ education was primary school
DJHRIPRQWKVPHDVOHV7KHUROHDQGSDUWLFLSDWLRQRI
midwives and cadres and local government support is
instrumental in this area of Situbondo in monitoring the
nutritional status of children in this subdistrict.
*URZWK DQG GHYHORSPHQW DUH WKH UHVXOWV RI WZR
IDFWRULQWHUDFWLRQ,QWHUQDOIDFWRUVFRQVLVWRIUDFHHWKQLF
RU QDWLRQDO GL൵HUHQFHV IDPLO\ DJH JHQGHU JHQHWLF
disorders, and chromosomal abnormalities, and children
ERUQ RI D FHUWDLQ UDFH ([WHUQDOHQYLURQPHQWDO IDFWRUV
WKDW D൵HFW WKH JURZWK DQG GHYHORSPHQW RI FKLOGUHQ
LQFOXGH QXWULWLRQ VWLPXODWLRQ SV\FKRORJ\ DQG VRFLR
economics.24 Stimulation of the environment is essential
JUDGXDWLRQ  ZLWK PRVW IDWKHUV ZRUNLQJ DV for child growth. Children who receive directional
IDUPHUV  DQG DOO WKH PRWKHUV QRW ZRUNLQJ EXW stimulation regularly will develop faster than children
KRXVHZLYHV )URPWKLVUHVHDUFKPRVWFKLOGUHQ who do not receive stimulation. Stimulation also
DUHWDNHQFDUHRIE\WKHLURZQPRWKHUDQGWKH PD[LPL]HVJHQHWLFSRWHQWLDOZKLFKEHORQJVWRWKHFKLOG25
rest of the children are taken care of by the mother and
RWKHUIDPLO\PHPEHUV,QWKLVVWXG\LWDSSHDUV ,QWKLVVWXG\WKHUHZDVDVLJQL¿FDQWUHODWLRQVKLSIRXQG
WKDWLQWKLVVWXG\WKHPDMRULW\RIPRWKHUVZHUHPDUULHG between early maternal marriage and child development.
DWDQHDUO\DJHEXWWKHDJHRIJLYLQJELUWKZDV 7KHULVNRIDFKLOGH[SHULHQFLQJGHYHORSPHQWDOGLVRUGHUV
PRUHWKDQDJH7KLVVKRZVWKDWQRWDOZD\V
mothers who marry at an early age will give birth at an
early age as well.
The characteristics of education show a large role
in the occurrence of early marriage. Education plays
a role in delaying early marriage.23 This study found
D VLJQL¿FDQW UHODWLRQVKLS EHWZHHQ HDUO\ PDUULDJH DJH
and a low maternal and paternal education level and
the father’s work. In this study, most children under
¿YH \HDUV ROG KDYH WKH DSSURSULDWH QXWULWLRQ HLWKHU DW
the age of marriage or age of delivery. Analysis of the
UHODWLRQVKLS EHWZHHQ PDUULDJH DJHHDUO\ FKLOGELUWK DQG
after a mother marries early is 62 times compared to an
early marriage. The father’s education remains low as
well as his employment and income so that probably he
still cannot receive enough information about what is
the meaning of development and how to optimize his
children’s progress and stimulate optimal developmental
aspects which the child needs.
CONCLUSION
Early marriage does not cause childhood
developmental disorders, but early childhood marriage
causes child developmental delays. On the other hand,
WKH JURZWK QXWULWLRQDO VWDWXV RI FKLOGUHQ JDYH UHVXOWV early childbirth causes general developmental delays
 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, September 2018, Vol.9, No. 9 197

in children. Early marriage and early childbirth result  (IHYEHUD < %KDEKD - )DUPHU 3 (  )LQN
LQ DQ LQFUHDVHG ULVN RI FKLOGUHQ H[SHULHQFLQJ VWXQWHG G. Girl child marriage as a risk factor for early
growth and developmental delays so it is necessary to childhood development and stunting. Soc. Sci.
perform screening and monitoring of child growth and
GHYHORSPHQW RQ D UHJXODU EDVLV +RZ HDUO\ PDUULDJH
DQG HDUO\ FKLOGELUWK DJH D൵HFW D FKLOG¶V GHYHORSPHQW
should be used as a consideration in the current policy.
Providing information to the public about the impact of
early marriage on the growth of children can be used to
promote public awareness on this issue.
Med. 185,±
10. Rumaseuw, R. et al. )DFWRUV$൵HFWLQJ +XVEDQG
Participation in Antenatal Care Attendance and
'HOLYHU\GRL
 (IHQGL ) &KHQ &0 .XUQLDWL$  %HUOLDQD
S. M. Determinants of utilization of antenatal care
services among adolescent girls and young women
&RQÀLFWRI,QWHUHVW Authors declared that we have no in Indonesia. Women Health 57,±
FRQÀLFWRILQWHUHVW
 .XUQLDWL$ &KHQ &0 0 &0 (IHQGL )
Acknowledgement: None (OL]DEHWK .X /- -  %HUOLDQD 6 0 0 6
M. Suami SIAGA: male engagement in maternal
Source of Funding: NA health in Indonesia. Heal. Policy Plan 32, 1203–
Ethical Clearance: NA 
 .XUQLDWL$&KHQ&0(IHQGL) %HUOLDQD
INTRODUCTION 6 0 )DFWRUV LQÀXHQFLQJ ,QGRQHVLDQ ZRPHQ¶V
use of maternal health care services. Health Care
 -DODO)3DSDUDQ.HSDOD%..%13DGD.RQIHUHQVL
Women Int.±GRL
Pers Rakernas Program Kependudukan dan
017.1393077
.HOXDUJD%HUHQFDQD7DKXQ
14. Utomo, I. & Utomo, A. Indicators and Correlates
 8WRPR $ - 5HLPRQGRV $ 8WRPR , '
of Adolescent Pregnancy in Indonesia: Results
0F'RQDOG 3 )  +XOO 7 + 7UDQVLWLRQ LQWR
from 2010 Population Census and 2012
PDUULDJHLQ*UHDWHU-DNDUWDSouth East Asia Res.
24,± Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey.
81)3$
3. Yunitasari, E., Pradanie, R. & Susilawati, A. Early
Marriage Based on Transcultural Nursing Theory in  1XU$ : , et al. Analysis of the Survival of
Kara Village Sampang. J. Ners 11,± Children Under Five in Indonesia and Associated
)DFWRUVGRL
 $GLW\D%XGLPDQ81,&()0LQWD,QGRQHVLD+DSXV
3HUQLNDKDQ8VLD$QDN1DVLRQDO7HPSRFR 16. Berliana, S. M., Utami, E. D., Efendi, F. &
$YDLODEOHDWKWWSVQDVLRQDOWHPSRFRUHDG .XUQLDWL $ 3UHPDULWDO 6H[ ,QLWLDWLRQ DQG 7LPH
XQLFHIPLQWDLQGRQHVLDKDSXVSHUQLNDKDQXVLD Interval to First Marriage Among Indonesians.
DQDN$FFHVVHGWK)HEUXDU\ Bull. Indones. Econ. Stud. 0,±

 $OEDVLW $ -XPODK 3HUQLNDKDQ 'LQL ,QGRQHVLD 17. Noer, K. U. Angka Kematian Bayi Dan Persoalan
Terbanyak Kedua di ASEAN. 2013, .HVHKDWDQ ,EX +DPLO 'DODP %XGD\D 0DGXUD
 $YDLODEOH DW KWWSVDUFKLYHRUJVWUHDP
6. BPS et al. Indonesia Demographic and Health
$ NE' D Q. H V H KD WD Q5H SU RGXNV L' L0 D GXU D 
Survey 2012. (BPS, BKKBN, Kemenkes, and ICF
$NE'DQ.HVSUR'L0DGXUDBGMYXW[W
,QWHUQDWLRQDO
18. UNICEF. Early Marriage A Harmful Traditional
 *RYHUQPHQW RI ,QGRQHVLD 8QGDQJXQGDQJ
Practice A Statistical Exploration 2005. (UNICEF,
Republik Indonesia Nomor 1 Tahun 1974 Tentang

Perkawinan. 1
 6HNLQH .  +RGJNLQ 0 ( (൵HFW RI FKLOG
 <DNXEX ,  6DOLVX : - 'HWHUPLQDQWV RI
marriage on girls’ school dropout in Nepal:
DGROHVFHQW SUHJQDQF\ LQ VXE6DKDUDQ $IULFD D
systematic review. Reprod. Health 15, Analysis of data from the Multiple Indicator
 198 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, September 2018, Vol.9, No. 9

&OXVWHU 6XUYH\  ±  GRL
MRXUQDOSRQH
 *XUPX( 'HMHQH77UHQGVDQGGL൵HUHQWLDOV
of adolescent motherhood in Ethiopia: evidences
IURP'HPRJUDSKLFDQG+HDOWK6XUYH\Afr J
IRRG IRU LQIDQWV  PRQWKV ROG LQ PDGXUHVH
people based on transcultural nursing theory.
GRL
 )DGO\DQD( /DUDVDW\63HUQLNDKDQ8VLD'LQL
dan Permasalahannya. Sari Pediatr. 11, 136–141
Reprod Heal. 16,± 
 .DPDO600 +DVVDQ&+&KLOGPDUULDJH 24. Narendra, M. B. Penilaian pertumbuhan dan
and its association with adverse reproductive perkembangan anak. Jakarta EGC
outcomes for women in Bangladesh. $VLD3DFL¿F
 6RHWMLQLQJVLK Tumbuh Kembang Remaja dan
J. Public Heal. 27,1313
Permasalahannya. Sagung Seto. Jakarta 320,
 0LVKEDKDWXO ( +DV 0 6\DOWXW 0 
Kusumaningrum, T. & Efendi, F. Early weaning