| چکیده انگلیسی مقاله |
Introduction
Child marriage is a widespread phenomenon globally though its prevalence varies significantly across different regions. According to UNICEF (2020), approximately 12 million girls are married before the age of 18 each year worldwide, with 37% of these girls residing in Africa. In Iran, statistics indicate that around 890,000 girls under 18 years were married between 2006 and mid-2015. Recent studies (Bagi, 2025; Torabi & Bagi, 2024) show an increase in the number of female child marriages in recent years. Iran is a multi-ethnic and multicultural society and this diversity significantly influences both the prevalence and patterns of child marriage, resulting in notable regional disparities. Therefore, examining the spread of this issue across different regions is of paramount importance (Salahshour & Habibpour, 2021: 34). Most studies conducted in Iran have primarily focused on the causes or consequences of child marriage at the individual level or have utilized small-scale case studies using qualitative methods. However, few studies have addressed the ethnic and cultural differences across regions. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate and compare the prevalence and determinants of child marriage in Iranian counties across 3 national censuses—2006, 2011, and 2016.
Materials & Methods
This study employed a quantitative research approach, utilizing secondary data analysis to examine census data collected by the Statistical Center of Iran. The statistical population encompassed all counties in Iran, which were analyzed across 3 time points. In 2006, Iran had 336 counties, which increased to 397 in 2011 and reached 429 by 2016. The unit of analysis for this research was county.
Discussion of Results & Conclusion
In 2006, the rate of child marriage among girls across the 336 counties of Iran ranged from 0% to 15.28%. The counties of Rashtkhar and Khalilabad in Razavi Khorasan Province, along with Farooj in North Khorasan Province, exhibited the highest prevalence rates at 15.28%, 15.16%, and 14.34%, respectively. Notably, Abu-Musa County in Hormozgan Province was the only county with no recorded cases of girls marrying before the age of 18. Following Abu-Musa, Paveh in Kermanshah Province and Abadeh in Fars Province reported the lowest rates at 0.472% and 0.539%, respectively.
By 2011, the prevalence of child marriage among girls had increased, ranging from 0% to 29.05%. Khalilabad, Sarein, and Firouzeh in Razavi Khorasan and Ardabil provinces recorded the highest rates at 29.05%, 27.25%, and 25.14%, respectively. Notably, the number of counties reporting zero percent child marriage rose to 10 in 2011 compared to just one in 2006.
In 2016, over 75% of Iranian counties reported child marriage rates below 10%. That year, the rates ranged from 0% to 35.11%, with Ijrud County in Zanjan Province having the highest rate at 35.11%. This was followed by Rashtkhar, Firouzeh, and Zaveh counties in Razavi Khorasan Province, which had rates of 30.88%, 30.27%, and 29.48%, respectively. Additionally, 22 counties reported zero cases of girls marrying under 18.
The findings illustrated a geographical distribution of child marriage across Iranian counties, highlighting the concentration of high rates in specific areas, which underscored the influence of ethnicity. Certain ethnic groups, particularly in Turkish-speaking regions (northwest), Baloch areas (southeast), and Persian-speaking populations in Razavi Khorasan (northeast), consistently experienced higher rates throughout the study period.
Analysis of the relationships between variables revealed that urbanization, internet penetration, and levels of development were significantly and negatively correlated with child marriage. As these factors increased in a county, the prevalence of female child marriage tended to decrease.
According to the findings, raising public awareness through improved access to mass media played a crucial role in reducing child marriage. As families became more informed about the negative consequences of child marriage and moved away from traditional mindsets, they were more likely to prevent early marriages. Additional deterrents included urbanization and higher levels of development. When sufficient resources and opportunities were available for women to pursue their aspirations, child marriage became less prevalent. Consequently, regions that offered such conditions tended to experience lower rates of child marriage.
Ultimately, most counties with high child marriage rates were less developed and had limited access to mass media. Enhancing conditions in these areas through greater access to educational and awareness-raising media coupled with broader development initiatives could significantly reduce child marriage. However, despite the impact of development, other factors—such as religion and ethnicity—should not be overlooked as they also play a critical role in shaping regional behavioral differences. |