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. 2022 Sep 26;7(1):32.
doi: 10.1186/s41256-022-00252-4.

Child Marriage Acceptability Index (CMAI) as an essential indicator: an investigation in South and Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Muliani Ratnaningsih  1 , Heribertus Rinto Wibowo  2 , Nicholas J Goodwin  2 , Ade Ayu Kartika Sari Rezki  2 , R Ridwan  2 , Ratnakanya Nitya Hadyani  2 , Emilie Minnick  3 , Derry Fahrizal Ulum  3 , Tanti Kosmiyati Kostaman  3 , Sitti Nur Faizah  4
Affiliations

Child Marriage Acceptability Index (CMAI) as an essential indicator: an investigation in South and Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Muliani Ratnaningsih et al. Glob Health Res Policy. .

Abstract

Background: Child marriage remains an important social issue in Indonesia. Child marriages were reported from 14.67% in 2008 to 10.82% in 2019. However, 22 out of 34 provinces in Indonesia still had high child marriage rates above the national average in 2019. This study aims to assess child marriage acceptability in the two locations in Indonesia by gender inequality, financial security, education rates, legal frameworks, dowry, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

Methods: This study used a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional study design. A total of 1000 respondents consisting of 500 households in Bone District, South Sulawesi and 500 households in Palu, Sigi, and Donggala District in Central Sulawesi participated in the study. Data analyses were conducted based on the Child Marriage Acceptability Index (CMAI) using the bivariate correlation, ANOVA (analysis of variance), and logistic regression.

Results: This study found several significant factors that contributed to child marriage acceptance in Central and South Sulawesi: household financial security (p = 0.016), dowry (p < 0.001) and legal frameworks (p = 0.017) based on ANOVA analysis. After conducting a bivariate correlation, dowry (p < 0.001) and sexual and gender-based violence (p < 0.001) remain significant factors. Dowry (p < 0.001), with expected B = 0.122, and sexual and gender-based violence (p < 0.001, with expected B = 0.064) remains significant after the linear regression analysis.

Conclusions: Dowry practice and sexual and gender-based violence were the most significant factors contributing to child marriage acceptance in Central and South Sulawesi. There is a need to conduct interventions to prevent child marriage, including providing sexual and reproductive health education.

Keywords: Child Marriage Acceptability Index (CMAI); Dowry; Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. The authors whose names are listed immediately below certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript. Nicholas J. Goodwin has a commercial contract between UNICEF and Tulodo.

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