Social Backgrounds and Determinants of Women's Early Marriage in the District of Ahvaz, Iran

Early marriage is a global problem with a wide range of health and social consequences for adolescent girls. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the factors affecting the early marriage of women in Ahvaz. The research sample includes 700 respondents (315 women married over 18 years old, and 385 women married below the age 18). The survey research method was carried out using the questionnaire tool. The findings showed that early marriage in the district of Ahvaz has increased from 29.4% of all marriages in 2011 to 32.1% in 2021. Not having the right to choose a spouse, marriage with close relatives, and parents' concern about girls marrying late and premarital relations, which is caused by the dominant culture and traditional-relative marriages in the city of Ahvaz, have intensified the early marriage of girls. Based on multivariate analysis, education was the most important variable in predicting the probability of early marriage followed by the variables of the type of marriage (compulsory/optional), kinship relationship with spouse, and the place of residence. Ending early marriage requires a multifaceted strategy focusing on girls, their families, society, and the government. Improving education, economic opportunities, access to health services and stricter constitutional frameworks can stop the growing trend of child marriage in Iran and Khuzestan.