Theresia Bashiru Goru from Tanzania wrote this blog after attending the RIATT-ESA sponsored Children and Youth conference at the 2017 Psychosocial Forum.

Early marriage takes place before a child turns 18 years and is regarded as mature, both mentally and physically. Early marriage can be a result of poverty, illiteracy, parental influence, cultural practices and globalization.

Early marriage has become a problem in the Dodoma region of Tanzania as in other parts of Africa. This problem affects lots of people through following:

Infant death during birth – This happens as the cervix of young girls is too small for the baby to pass through. This may lead to the death of the mother.
Dropping out of schools - When girls as young as 12 years old drops out of school, it has a negative impact of their mental and emotional development.
Sexually transmitted diseases- SDTs such as HIV/AIDS, Gonorrhea and syphilis may lead to death without correct medicine and proper treatment.
Divorce- When girls get marriage at an early age it can lead to misunderstandings, conflict, violence and divorce.

The following measures should be taken to end early marriages:

Education should be provided to communities on its negative effects.
Government should enact the laws to punish those who still practice or entertain early marriage.
Cultural practices that that encourage early marriage should be eradicated.