Awareness about the Consequences of Early Marriage Amongst Amassoma Residents in Southern-Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State

Early marriage, defined as marriage before the age of 18 has numerous challenges both at global and regional level, and therefore has major consequences for public health, national security, social development, human rights, economic development and gender equality. This study seeks to evaluate awareness about early marriage among residents of Amassoma community, in Southern-Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa state. The study adopted a descriptive survey design, with a target population that includes both teenagers from 15 years and adults up to 60 years of age.120 participants were selected by simple random technique for the study. A researcher self constructed questionnaire was used for data collection. Data collected were presented in frequency tables and analyzed using simple percentage and chi square, results from the study shows that, Most of the respondents 72 (60 %) reported that they knew that early marriage has an effect on the couples, 28 (38.3 %) specified divorce, 15 (20.8 %) specified poverty, 24 (33.3 %) specified family conflict while 5 (6.9 %) specified child abandonment. Majority of the respondents 108 (90 %) knew that some families gives out their teenage daughters in marriage. Majority of the respondents 117 (97.5 %) know that any marriage below 18 years of age is an early marriage. The fight against early marriage seems more like a socially accepted crime. Therefore, it is a task for nurses in community health setting to set up a health promoting and awareness programmes. Through community mobilization that can be instituted in order to address these problems. Nurses should also realize that collaborative actions are required in order to address these problems.