Child marriages plunged when girls stayed in school in Nigeria (nature.com)

Article summary

A study in Nigeria found that a community-based intervention encouraging girls to attend school or vocational training reduced the likelihood of child marriage by 80%. The Pathways to Choice programme also increased school attendance and improved access to social support. The study suggests that multifaceted interventions can be effective in reducing child marriage. The programme had a benefit-cost ratio of 2.41, indicating a positive return on investment.

Main themes

• Child marriage reduction
• Education and empowerment
• Community-based interventions
• Economic benefits
• Social support
• Family planning

What commenters say

• Educating girls and women can lead to lower birth rates, as they are more likely to pursue careers and delay marriage and childbearing.
• Providing education and child support programs to both men and women can help reduce child marriage and improve family outcomes.
• Some argue that informing men about the responsibilities of fatherhood could decrease birth rates, as they may be deterred by the potential obligations.
• Others believe that increasing education and awareness about the challenges of parenthood can lead to more informed decisions, but may not necessarily increase birth rates.
• There is a perceived link between education, lowered child mortality, and access to contraception, which can contribute to lower birth rates.
• Some commentators suggest that governments should provide more support to families, such as child tax credits, to encourage higher birth rates.
• The relationship between education, career goals, and family planning is complex, and some women may choose not to have children or delay childbearing to pursue their careers.
• The impact of education on birth rates is not limited to women, as more educated men also tend to have fewer children, although the difference is less pronounced.