Incidence of child marriage among refugees and internally displaced persons in the Middle East and South Asia: evidence from six cross-sectional surveys
This cross-sectional study examined child marriage among adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 in six humanitarian settings across the Middle East and South Asia, including Djibouti, Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Researchers compared displaced and host populations using household surveys and hazard analysis to assess trends and differences in child marriage rates.
Results showed variation by setting. Displacement was linked to higher risk of child marriage in Yemen but lower risk in Djibouti. In Iraq and Bangladesh, risks were similar between displaced and host communities. Pooled data showed that displaced girls faced a 30 percent higher hazard of child marriage overall. Most settings showed a decline in child marriage among younger cohorts, with the exception of Yemen, where rates increased following conflict.
These findings suggest that child marriage does not always rise in humanitarian crises. Effective prevention requires context specific approaches grounded in up to date evidence.