Experiences of young males in child marriages in Chitungwiza, St Mary's · Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Author

B201237B

Title

Experiences of young males in child marriages in Chitungwiza, St Mary's

Abstract

ABSTRACT
The study examined the experiences of young males in Chitungwiza, St Mary’s. The main aim of the research was to explore the experiences of boys in child marriages. The objectives of this study were to analyze factors that contribute to the child marriages among boys, to scrutinize the consequences of child marriages and to examine the coping strategies utilized by boys in child marriages in Chitungwiza, St Mary’s. The research was qualitative in nature and it made use of in-depth interviews, Key informant interviews and focus group discussion. The research was qualitative and made use of a narrative phenomenology research design. The sample size for the research was 25. The research used thematic analysis to analyze the data which was collected. The major findings of the research were based on the causes of child marriages amongst young males in Chitungwiza, St Mary’s, the consequences of child marriages on boys as well as the coping strategies which are being utilized by boy in child marriages in Chitungwiza, St Mary’s. The study found out that poverty, religion, peer pressure and sexual desires are some causes of child marriages among young male in Chitungwiza, St Mary’s. The consequences of child marriages amongst boys which were noted in this study are sexual and reproductive health challenges, drug and substance abuse, poverty and mental health issues. The research found out that boys in child marriages seek support from the peers and family; they also seek help from organisations and also engage in different activities like street vending and attending church as coping strategies. The study suggests the recommendation which can be implemented by different authorities in order to address the issue of child marriages amongst boys. The study recommends the government to strengthen the legal and policy frameworks through developing a comprehensive national action plan to end child marriages, with clear roles and accountability for different government agencies. The civil society should engage on awareness campaigns to address the issue of child marriage amongst boys. Dialogues should be conducted in the community on the issue of child marriages in order to address the some harmful gender norms that perpetuate child marriages.

Date

JUNE 2024

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

the experiences of boys in child marriages
coping strategies utilized by boys
sexual and reproductive health

Supervisor

NIL