INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)  
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XI November 2025  
Child Marriage Practice in Ebonyi State: The Sustainability of Socio  
Economic and Cultural Factors.  
Onyia Maxwell Obinna1, Onyia Eunice Onyinye2, Amadi Aroh3  
1,3Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology,  
Agbani, Enugu, Nigeria.  
2Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, University of Science and Technology,  
Agbani, Enugu, Nigeria.  
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.91100649  
Received: 05 December 2025; Accepted: 12 December 2025; Published: 29 December 2025  
ABSTRACT  
The study examined the socio-economic and cultural factors contributing to child marriage in selected Local  
Government Areas of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Despite efforts to combat child marriage, it persists, particularly in  
underdeveloped regions like Nigeria, especially in the Moslem North and Ebonyi State in the East. The  
investigation focused on individuals aged 18 and older in Ebonyi State, which had a population of 2,176,947  
according to the 2006 census. To project the adult population for 2019, the 2006 population was estimated at  
3,278,566 using an annual growth rate of 3.2%. The sample size for the study was 624, calculated using Taro  
Yamane's formula. A multi-stage sampling approach was employed, involving the three senatorial zones of  
Ebonyi: Ebonyi North, Central, and South. Cluster sampling categorized each zone with the Local Government  
Areas (LGAs), and simple random sampling selected Ebonyi, Ikwo, and Onicha LGAs. From each LGA, three  
communities were chosen using a simple balloting system, resulting in a total of nine communities selected  
across the three LGAs. The research assessed the reliability of its instrument using Cronbach Alpha and analyzed  
quantitative data using SPSS, employing descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Qualitative data from in-  
depth interviews were analyzed with Nvivo. Findings indicate older individuals in Ebonyi State tend to support  
child marriage more than younger individuals, influenced by cultural values and male dominance. Income was  
identified as a significant factor in the prevalence of child marriage, which adversely affects girls' futures. The  
study advocates for heightened awareness of the risks associated with child marriage, particularly in rural areas,  
and calls for culturally suitable programs to promote behavioral change regarding family size and marriage  
practices.  
Keywords: Child Marriage, Socio-cultural, Parental upbringing, Practice, Local Government Areas, Ebonyi  
State.  
INTRODUCTION  
Child marriage is a formal marriage or informal union entered into by an individual before reaching the age of  
18 (UNICEF, 2005). The UN defines child marriage as modern slavery and it is prohibited by Nigeria’s Child  
Rights Act (2003) but this is negated by Sharia Law that is in force in much of the Northern States of Nigeria  
(UN, 2014). According to United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF, 2005), Africa has  
the highest incidence of child marriage which has sometimes been referred to as ‘early marriage’ or ‘child  
brides’, however, early marriage does not imply that children are involved, and the term is vague because an  
early marriage for one society may be considered late marriage by another society. If a girl marries at the age of  
19 to about 24 years, it can be seen as early marriage and yet not child marriage. Similarly, the term ‘child bride’  
glorifies the tradition by portraying an image of joy and celebration. Most of the child marriages are arranged  
by parents but the most vulnerable children are the orphans, since they are left at the mercies of their guardians  
who give them out. Girls of poor economic background, uneducated, living in the rural and urban areas is also  
prone to child marriage. It is no longer a matter of argument that females constitute more than fifty percent (50%)  
of the world’s active population (UNICEF, 2005). Although they make immense contribution to national  
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)  
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XI November 2025  
development, they still face a number of difficulties that limit their potentials in promoting personal and  
collective development.  
Child marriage seems to be more prevalent in some parts of Nigeria than the others. For instance, the cores  
Muslim North uphold the ‘doctrine’ of child marriage. This tends to create a clash of laws and principles, based  
on different religious grounds in Nigeria. The Southern part of Nigeria is mainly Christian, while the Northern  
part is principally Muslims. In Northern Nigeria, parents believe strongly that the quality of education is so poor  
that schooling cannot be considered a viable alternative to marriage for their daughters (UNPF, 2013). The  
prevalence of child marriage varies widely from one region to another, with figures as high as 76% in the North  
West region and as low as 10% in the South East (UNPF, 2013).  
It is expedient to state that culture is what describes each ethnic group in Nigeria. Anikpo and Tantua (2015)  
defined culture as the people’s way of life. It includes the people’s belief, their mode of worship, their arts and  
craft, language, religion, technology, dressing, way of thinking, dancing, greeting and eating habits, as well as  
the political and economic systems they operate. It is a social heritage of a particular group of people and not a  
personal property. Anikpo and Tantua (2015) further state two components of culture: material/ tangible and  
non-material/ intangible culture. Material culture refers to the physical objects made by the society to meet and  
satisfy the needs of the people. It includes things that we can see and touch. Non-material culture, on the other  
hand, describes abstract things found in a people’s ways of life. These things include language, religious beliefs,  
values, norms, customs and rules. A group can best be understood and described, based on its cultural practices.  
People’s culture best explains why and how they do what they do and behave the way they behave.  
Evidence has consistently shown that there are multiple socio economic and cultural factors that affect child  
marriage in Nigeria. These include, ‘male-issue syndrome’, low status of women, cultural beliefs and practices  
and unwanted pregnancy. These have combined to increase the chances of young girls getting married below 18  
years of age (UNICEF, 2003). It should also be mentioned that certain attitudes or expectations from parents  
have also contributed to a great extent to child marriage. The inability of the parents to provide adequately for  
the children can lead to child marriage. Such parents often push away their children from the house and  
sometimes they are seen as maids to relations and strangers as well. Some of them ends up in getting married at  
a tender age, even to people that are good enough to be their fathers. The focus of this study was therefore, on  
the socio economic and cultural factors affecting child marriage in selected LGAs in Ebonyi state, Nigeria.  
EMPIRICAL REVIEW  
Erulkar and Muthengi (2014) studied Berhane Hewan; a programme to delay child marriage in rural Ethiopia.  
The aim of the programme was to reduce the prevalence of child marriage in rural Ethiopia, through a  
combination of group formation, support for girls to remain in school and community awareness. Erulkar and  
Muthengi (2014) carried out a quasi-experimental research design, with baseline and endline surveys to measure  
changes in social and educational participation, marriage age and reproductive health knowledge and  
contraceptive use. Chi-square tests, proportional hazards models and logistic regressions were conducted to  
assess challenges associated with the project. The result showed that intervention was associated with  
considerable improvements in girls’ school enrollment, age at marriage, reproductive health knowledge and  
contraceptive use, particularly among girls aged 10-14. Those exposed to the program were more likely than  
those in the control area to be in school at the endline survey (odds ratio, (3.0) and were less likely to have ever  
been married (0.1). However, among girls aged 15-19, those in the intervention area had an elevated likelihood  
of having married by the endline (2.4). Sexually experienced girls exposed to the intervention had elevated odds  
at end line of 2.9. In conclusion, Berhane Hewan program, was one of the first rigorously evaluated interventions  
to delay marriage in Sub- Saharan Africa. It suggests that well designed and effective implemented programs  
can delay early marriages until late adolescence. This current study is consistent with National Research Council  
and Institute of Medicine (2005) which stated that child marriage is associated with lower levels of schooling  
for girls in every region of the world and is a barrier to international development goals. This is further validated  
by Saranga and Kurz (2006) which emphasized that education a girl receives is the strongest predictor of the age  
she will marry across many countries and regions. Bennell, (2002) reported that in Sub-Saharan Africa, the  
number of girls out of school each year has risen from 20 million in 1990 to 24 million in 2002. Of the 25  
selected countries studied, fifteen (15) were in sub-Saharan Africa. According to NDHS (2018) the patterns by  
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ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XI November 2025  
background characteristics of women who married early in Nigeria revealed that rural women age 25-49 marry  
at younger ages than their urban counterparts (17.2 years versus 21.6 years) while women with no education  
marry 6 years earlier than women with a secondary education (15.9 years versus 21.9 years). Generally, girls  
living in rural areas marry earlier than girls in urban areas. In rural areas of Nigeria, 21 percent of young women,  
who are now 20 to 24, were married by age 15, as compared to 8 percent in urban areas (Rashad, Osman, &  
Roudi-Fahimi, 2005). In India, percentage of women aged 20 to 49 years who were married or in union before  
age 18, by place of residence (Sekine, & Hodgkin, 2017).  
Child marriage, which is marriage before the age of 18, increases the chances of Vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF),  
because the pelvic of such girl who married early is too narrow to allow a baby to pass through it (Bunting,  
2005). The common causes of VVF are obstructed labour, early marriage, rape, poverty and women’s limited  
control over the use of family resources Adedokun, Adeyemi, & Dauda, 2016). Nour (2009) mentioned  
depression, sexually transmitted infection, cervical cancer and infant and maternal mortality as the consequences  
of child marriage.  
In a study conducted by Karlyn and Erulker (2007), on child marriage in Northern Nigeria, it was revealed that  
child marriage contributes to HIV exposure and negative Rhesus factor outcomes for adolescent girls in Northern  
Nigeria. Presenting the attitudinal and structural antecedents to early marriage among adolescent girls in the  
Northern Nigeria, 3915 young people aged 10 to 24 years were interviewed in 2006. Perceived external  
autonomy among young people was significantly lower for girls (13.8%) than boys (38.9%) (p<0.00) increasing  
slightly with age. Logistic regression confirms that age and sex are significantly associated with autonomy,  
controlling for socio-demographic factors. Regression on gender attitudes toward girls played no significant role  
in perceived autonomy of girls or boys. Factors contributing to early marriage in girls include sex, age, and  
literacy (p<0.05). Low autonomy nearly doubles the likelihood of early marriage (OR=0.04) (p<0.001). Karlyn  
and Erulker (2007), which the underlying social and structural factors associated with early marriage in northern  
Nigeria are largely immutable. However attitudes towards girls’ autonomy are sensitive to change by program  
intervention.  
METHODOLOGY  
The research design for this study was mixed cross-sectional descriptive survey research design, which  
investigates and describes events as they are at a particular point in time. This design suits this study as it would  
help to identify the existing socio-economic and cultural factors that affect child marriage in Ebonyi state. Ebonyi  
State is one of the six states created in 1996 by the former Nigerian ruler, General Sani Abacha. Ebonyi was  
carved out of the old Abakaliki division of Enugu State and the old Afikpo division of Abia State. The State  
shares borders with Benue State to the North, Enugu State to the west, Imo and Abia States to the south, and  
Cross River State to the East. The population for this study were males and females within the age of 18 years  
and above in Ebonyi State. Ebonyi State had a population of 2,176,947 at the 2006 census (NPC, 2009).  
However, to get the adult population projection of the adult population for 2019, the 2006 population was  
projected, using the annual population growth rate of 3.2% in arriving at 3,278,566 which made up the population  
of this study. The sample size used for this study was 624 determined using Taro Yamane statistical formula.  
The study adopted multi-stage approach for the study. Ebonyi has three senatorial zones; they are Ebonyi North,  
Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi South Senatorial zones. The cluster sampling technique was used to categorize each  
senatorial zone with the LGAs. Using simple random sampling was used in selecting each of the senatorial zone  
and Local Government Areas (LGA). They include Ebonyi LGA, Ikwo LGA and Onicha LGA. Going further,  
from each of the selected LGAs using the simple balloting system, three (3) communities were selected. A total  
of 9 communities were selected from each of the three LGAs. In carrying the reliability of the research  
instrument, the Cronbach Alpha was used. Quantitative data from the questionnaires was subsequently coded,  
processed and analyzed, using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics such as  
percentages and frequency tables were employed in the analysis of data. Chi-square statistics was utilized in  
testing the study hypotheses. The Nvivo software was used to analyze the qualitative data from the in-depth  
interviews (IDI).  
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION  
This section shows the presentation and analysis of the data as stated in the study methodology. In this study,  
six hundred and twenty four (624) copies of the questionnaire were distributed to adult population in Ebonyi  
state. Out of the total number of questionnaires distributed, only five hundred and eighty three (583) copies  
(representing 97.1% of the distributed questionnaire copies) were properly filled and returned. Hence, the  
quantitative data analysis in this study is based on 583 valid copies of the questionnaire. The qualitative data  
obtained through twelve (12) IDI responses of the traditional leaders, youth leaders, women leaders and clergy  
men were analyzed thematically to complement the quantitative data.  
Table 1: Analysis on Place of residence of the respondents  
Place of residence  
Urban  
Frequency  
71  
Percentage  
12.2  
Semi-Urban  
Rural  
201  
34.5  
311  
53.3  
Total  
583  
100%  
The Table shows the demographic characteristics of the respondents. The data realized from the respondents’  
residential places shows that the majority of the respondents (53.3%) are from the rural area, (34.5%) are from  
the semi-urban area while, 12.2% were drawn from the urban area.  
Table 2: Analysis on Sex of the respondents  
Sex  
Frequency  
111  
Percentage  
19.1  
Male  
Female  
Total  
472  
80.9  
583  
100%  
The Table also showed sex variation of respondents, (80.9%) females and (19.1%) male simply disclosed the  
keen interest of and the eagerness of women to air their views on the subject matter as it concerns them most.  
Table 3: Analysis on Age of the respondents  
Age  
Frequency  
Percentage  
16.9  
18 – 27 years  
28 – 37 years  
38 – 47 years  
48 – 57 years  
58 – 67 years  
68 and above  
Total  
99  
83  
14.2  
100  
98  
17.2  
16.8  
114  
89  
19.6  
15.3  
583  
100%  
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Age groups were categorically specified in the study where 16.9% of the respondents fell within age of 18 to 27  
years; 14.2% within the age of 28 to 37 years; 17.2% are within the age of 38 to 47 years; (16.8%) within age  
48 to 57; (19.6%) also fell within the age of 58 to 57years, while (15.3) within 68 years and above.  
Table 4: Analysis on Marital Status of the respondents  
Marital Status  
Single  
Frequency  
Percentage  
15.6  
91  
Married  
316  
81  
54.2  
Divorced/Separated  
Widowed  
13.9  
95  
16.3  
Total  
583  
100%  
Subsequent to the ongoing, was the distribution of respondents’ by their marital status. (15.6%) are seen to be  
single; 54.2% are married; 13.9% are divorced with some living all alone, some others living together with their  
children, while 16.3% have lost their husbands and are now widows. Most of the females in this study are  
married, while the divorced are the least in number.  
Table 5: Analysis on Educational Qualification of the respondents  
Educational Qualification  
No formal education  
Primary education  
Secondary Education  
NCE, Diploma  
Frequency  
Percentage  
16.8  
98  
181  
135  
82  
80  
5
31.0  
23.2  
14.1  
HND/BSc/B.A/B.Ed  
MBA, M.A., MSc,  
PhD  
13.7  
0.9  
2
0.3  
Total  
583  
100%  
Furthermore, the participants, who did not attain formal education are (16.8%) in number; (31.0%) possess  
primary education; (23.2%) attained up to secondary school education, (14.1%) had their NCE, Diploma;  
(13.7%) attended tertiary institution up to HND/BSC while those who earned their Ph.D. were only (0.3%). This  
shows that a good number of women involved in this study have no formal education. Meanwhile, a larger  
percentage (%) had their primary cum secondary school education, and then the number that attended tertiary  
institution is insignificant compared to the other categories.  
Table 6: Analysis on Religious Affiliation of the respondents  
Religious Affiliation  
Christianity  
Islam  
Frequency  
Percentage  
91.8  
535  
6
1.0  
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Traditional (ATR)  
42  
7.2  
Total  
583  
100%  
The religious affiliation of the respondents show that the majority are mostly Christians (91.8%); (7.2%) are  
traditional worshippers, while (1.0%) are Moslems.  
Table 7: Analysis on Level of monthly Income of the respondents  
Level of monthly Income  
Less than N20,000  
N21,000 to N49,000  
N50,000 to N99,000  
N100,000 to N199,000  
N200,000 and above  
Total  
Frequency  
Percentage  
74.4  
434  
95  
16,3  
51  
8.8  
3
0.5  
Nil  
583  
Nil  
100%  
As for monthly income level, a greater percentage of the respondents (74.4%) earn less than N20, 000 naira per  
month, showing how indigents the majority of the respondents’ are. A little above that are (16.3%) respondents,  
whose income fell within N21,000 to N49,000; this is followed by (8.8%) who earns between N50,000 to  
N99,000; also (0.5%) whose theirs’ fell within N100,000 to N199,000 and finally at zero percentage (%) none  
agreed to be earning anything beyond N200,000 and above.  
Table 8: Analysis on Occupation of the respondents  
Occupation  
Farming  
Frequency  
Percentage  
35.2  
205  
99  
Civil Servant  
Public Servant  
Business/Trading  
Unemployed  
Total  
16.9  
89  
15.3  
122  
68  
20.9  
11.7  
583  
100%  
In considering the occupational status of the respondents it was deduced as stated above that the greater  
proportion of those who participated in the study (35.2%) are farmers; (16.9%) are Civil Servants; (15.3%) are  
Public servants; in the same vein (20.9%) are basically into one business/trading or the other, while, quiet a  
reasonable number (11.7%) complained that they had nothing doing at the time this study was being conducted.  
Table 9: Analysis on how long the respondents have lived in the Area of Study  
How long have you lived in this place  
Frequency  
Percentage  
1-9 years  
28  
31  
4.8  
5.3  
10-19 years  
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20-29 years  
30-39 years  
40- 49 years  
50- 59 years  
60 years and above  
Total  
94  
16.1  
17.5  
19.9  
21.5  
14.9  
100%  
102  
116  
125  
87  
583  
However, to ascertain how long each respondent had lived in the study locale, seven (7) years age groups were  
categorically established to guide this finding. It shows that (4.8%) have lived up to 1 to 9 years in the area;  
(5.3%) lived up to 10 to19 years; (16.1%) lived up to 20 to 29 years; (17.5%) lived up to 30 to 39 years; (19.9%)  
lived up to 40-49 years; (21.5%) agreed to have lived up to 50 to 59 years while, (14.9%) disclosed that they  
have lived there for about 60 years and above.  
Table 10: Chi-square test of the relationship between place of residence and encouraging child Marriage  
Place  
Residence  
of  
Encouraging child marriage  
it when it can when it can when when she when she  
Total  
when  
she  
starts  
mensura  
tion  
when  
can help to help  
to help  
prevent  
to parents  
approve  
the  
gets  
unwanted  
pregnancy willing to  
is of age  
and  
protect  
family  
resolve  
financial  
sexual  
honour/rep problem  
utation  
abuse/  
harassment  
marriage  
get  
married  
Urban  
19  
(3.2%)  
14 (2.4%)  
21 (3.6%)  
33 (5.6%)  
13 (2.2%)  
25 (4.2%)  
38 (6.5%)  
76 (13.0%)  
11 (1.8%)  
28 (4.8%)  
21 (3.6%)  
18  
(3.0%)  
25 (4.2%)  
31 (5.3%)  
44 (7.5%)  
22 (3.7%)  
14 (2.4%)  
144  
(24.6%  
)
Semi-Urban  
Rural  
32  
(5.4%)  
27  
(4.6%)  
186  
(31.9%  
)
57  
(9.7%)  
28  
(4.8%)  
62  
(10.6%)  
253  
(43.3%  
)
Total  
108  
68  
60 (10.2%)  
73  
118  
80  
583  
(18.5%)  
(11.6%)  
(12.5%)  
(20.2%)  
(13.7%)  
(100%)  
Researcher’s Fieldwork 2019 X2(df = 10, N=583), = 18.320, p=.001  
The chi-square test was run at 0.05 level of significance to cross tabulate if place of residence is likely to  
encourage child marriage in Ebonyi State; the chi-square test in Table 10 revealed a statistically significant (P-  
value = .001) relationship between place of residence and encouraging child marriage. This result is expected  
because rural dwellers are likely to be susceptible to child marriage due to the prevailing cultural realities in the  
rural areas that encourage such practice.  
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Table 11: Chi-square test of the relationship between place of education and encouraging child marriage  
Level  
of  
Encouraging child marriage  
Total  
Education  
when  
she  
starts  
mensura  
tion  
when it can when it can when  
it  
to help to prevent parents  
sexual abuse/ approve  
can when  
when  
gets  
unwanted  
pregnancy  
she when she  
is of age  
help  
to help  
resolve  
protect  
family  
honour/repu  
tation  
and  
willing to  
get  
financial  
problem  
harassment  
the  
marriage  
married  
No  
education  
formal 44  
29 (4.9%)  
22 (3.7%)  
9 (1.5%)  
7 (1.2%)  
12 (2.0%)  
18 (3.0%)  
12 (2.0%)  
18 (3.0%)  
16 (2.7%)  
4 (0.6%)  
1 (0.1%)  
24 (4.1%)  
18 (3.0%)  
16 (2.7%)  
12 (2.0%)  
7 (1.2%)  
0 (0%)  
21(3.6%  
)
41 (7.0%)  
21 (3.6%)  
20 (3.4%)  
14 (2.4%)  
10 (1.7%) 187  
(32.0%)  
(7.5%)  
Primary  
education  
24  
(4.1%)  
17  
(2.9%)  
9 (1.5%)  
123  
(21.0%)  
Secondary  
Education  
15  
(2.5%)  
19  
(3.2%)  
12 (2.0%) 109  
(18.6%)  
NCE,  
Diploma  
14  
(2.4%)  
10  
(1.7%)  
9 (1.5%)  
82  
(14.0%)  
HND/BSc/B 11  
.A/B.Ed (1.8%)  
8 (1.3%) 13 (2.2%)  
20 (3.4%) 75  
(12.8%)  
MBA, M.A., 1 (0.1%) 0 (0%)  
MSc,  
0 (0%)  
1 (0.1%)  
2 (0.3%)  
5 (0.8%)  
PhD  
0 (%)  
0 (0%)  
1 (0.1%)  
0 (0%)  
0 (0%)  
0 (0%)  
1 (0.1%)  
2 (0.3%)  
Total  
109  
79 (13.5%)  
70 (12.0%)  
77 (13.2%)  
75  
110  
63  
583  
(18.6%)  
(12.8%)  
(18.8%)  
(10.8%)  
(100%)  
Researcher’s Fieldwork 2019 X2(df = 13, N=583), = 11.274, p=.001  
The chi-square test was run at 0.05 level of significance to test if there was a positive significant relationship  
between level of education and encouraging child marriage; the result of the statistical test showed significant  
evidence to accept the stated alternate hypothesis, X2(df = 13, N=583), = 11.274, p=.001. This finding implies  
that level of education of people determine their behavior. People of low educational qualification are more  
likely to encourage child marriage due to their narrow mindedness/ignorance than their counterpart of higher  
educational qualification.  
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, IMPLICATION AND CONCLUSION  
The study revealed that rural dwellers are likely to be susceptible to child marriage due to the prevailing cultural  
realities in the rural areas that encourage such practice. The study also revealed that people of low educational  
qualification are more likely to encourage child marriage due to their narrow mindedness/ignorance than their  
counterpart of higher educational qualification. A common belief is that child marriage is a coping strategy for  
poverty, accords girls and parent’s status and honour. However, evidence also shows that child marriage is a  
catalyst for poverty which undermines status and honour in societies. The study recommended the need to  
prioritize girl child education up to tertiary level in Ebonyi state. It also recommended that gender based  
interventions should be done to institutionalize gender balance and sensitivity in all sphere of social, economic  
and cultural institutions and engagement in the Ebonyi state.  
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