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The Practice of Child Marriage in West Papua

Marriage is a stage in life that practically everyone goes through. It is a precious and significant event that happens just once in a lifetime. Therefore, many people look forward to their wedding day. However, the age of marriage is frequently overlooked.

Child marriage is frequent in several places. Even in the midst of a pandemic, the frequency of early marriages has climbed. Children who are unable to attend school due to the regulations of online education cause parents to desire to marry off their children. This also occurs in West Papua. Check out the descriptions below for additional information.

The Child Marriage

Early marriage is one of the major issues that governments throughout the world are grappling with, especially in developing countries. Many parents then compel their children to marry while they are in their early twenties. This practice must unquestionably be addressed.

In the instance of Indonesia, the government has altered the rules regarding the marriage age restriction. Initially, at least 16 years old, the minimum age has recently been raised to 19 years old for both men and women. However, there are still a large number of applications for dispensation for early marriage.

Teenagers who are still immature, i.e., between the ages of 14 and 17 and from low-income households, are often the targets of early marriage. In addition to economic issues, customs, as well as undesired pregnancies as a result of promiscuity, urge child marriage.

Recently, as a response to the outbreak, children have been compelled to study online or from home. The community takes advantage of this opportunity to marry off their offspring. Thus, it is not surprising that the demand for early marriage dispensation has risen.

Why is it necessary to enact such rules? According to the statistics gathered, early marriage correlates to a large number of cases of stunting. Stunting is a condition in which a child’s growth is less than normal, often known as malnutrition.

The link between child marriage and stunting is that when children are pushed to mature at a young age, they may lose control and lack the understanding of the art of being a housewife and a decent parent. This, of course, has the potential to reduce the population’s ability to generate a superior and powerful generation, both physically and mentally.

Aside from the concerns of stunting, early marriage can have certain unfavorable consequences. These include an increased risk of miscarriage, hypertension, anemia, early delivery, poor birth weight, and depression.

Meanwhile, in terms of reproductive organ maturity, the status of human reproductive organs under the age of 18 years has not yet entirely developed. Teenagers under the age of 18 who are still in their infancy may battle for nourishment with their unborn child.

In terms of biology, the best age for pregnancy is between 21 and 35 years old. Those who are old enough have a more stable mentality and are more receptive to new information regarding parenting.

The Practice of Child Marriage in West Papua

According to BKKBN statistics, at least 1,000 youths in West Papua aged 15 to 19 are reported to be married and pregnant. So, it is not unexpected that the maternal death rate is estimated to be rather high. Then, 44 out of 1,000 of them had unplanned pregnancies.

This case is pretty high, which is quite sad. Hence, all parties involved must work together to solve this dilemma. It is important to note that the general marriage age in West Papua is 21 years old. However, regional inequity has resulted in the widespread practice of early marriage.

According to UNICEF, 15% of women aged 20 to 24 are married or living with a partner before the age of 18. This is a common occurrence among impoverished people in West Papua.

There are several negative consequences that come with child marriage, some of which have already been highlighted. For example, in Papua and West Papua, stunting instances are worsening and rising, resulting in a decline in HDI quality. What about any undesirable consequences? Is there anything more that should be known? Take a look at the following explanation:

1. Stunts

As we previously noted, early marriage correlates to an increase in stunting cases in children. This illness manifests itself not only physically but also intellectually. Children lose their ability to think clearly, which has a negative influence on the Papua region’s HDI, which has not improved.

2. Susceptible to sexual violence

It is stated that youngsters, particularly teens under the age of 18, marry at a young age. They still perceive the world through naive eyes, making them more vulnerable to being duped and sexually assaulted.

3. Health Issues

When a young couple marries, they face a slew of health issues. There are both physical and mental health problems. Children who should still be learning but are pushed to grow up too soon might become depressed. This, of course, has an impact on the child’s parenting style.

When it comes to physical health problems, adolescent females might contract sexually transmitted illnesses such as cervical cancer, suffer from anemia, endure dramatic mood swings, and a variety of other health issues.

In terms of countermeasures, the Indonesian government has recently increased socialization about the dangers of child marriages by encouraging children to be more involved in school and providing adequate marriage education.

Not to forget, the government is supposed to strengthen fundamental services in the domains of education, health, community empowerment, and women’s and children’s safety through the Population and Family Planning Program.