Young Marriage, Parenthood and Divorce in Zambia
This research documents the experiences of young Zambians who are married or cohabiting before the age of 18
Abstract
Zambian law prohibits marriage under 21 but the practice, driven by circumstance, stubbornly persists, albeit increasingly as informal cohabitations which are inseparable from pregnancy and parenthood. For many adolescents, who lack the experience, emotional maturity and financial resources to cope, they are a complex and challenging experience, rarely investigated until now.
New research, published as part of Young Lives’ and Child Frontiers multi country Young Marriage and Parenthood Study (YMAPS), documents the experiences of young Zambians who are married or cohabiting before the age of 18 and of many who became parents in their teens. It exposes the challenges they face as they navigate these adult roles and responsibilities. The authors identify what support these young people need in order to improve their lives and those of their children, signalling policies that would bolster efforts towards the UN Sustainable Development Goal to end child marriage by 2030 and ultimately help break the cycle of poverty and gender inequality in Zambia.
Citation
Gillian Mann, “Young Marriage, Parenthood and Divorce in Zambia”, Young Lives, March 2020