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Abstract

Despite increasing socioeconomic development in Indonesia the issue of child marriages remains prevalent among teenage females. To date, there have not been any nationally representative studies examining child marriage determinants via multivariate regression modeling in Indonesia. The following study used data from the 2019 Indonesian Population and Health Survey and the Teenage Reproductive Health Survey to estimate the determinants of child marriage and marital expectations. Multivariate simulations were carried out in order to approximate the association between demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and the following early marriage outcomes: 1) often married or cohabited, 2) married or cohabited before 19 years, 3) married or cohabited before 16 years, 4) self-reported marital age preferences and 5) behaviours that approve female child marriage. Among the child marriage research group, 17 percent reported being married before the age of 19 and 6 percent before 16 years of age (n = 6578, females aged 20-24 at the time of the survey). At approximately 26 years, the average respondent supported marriage, and 5 percent approved of child marriage (n = 8779, unmarried females 15-24). Schooling, wages and media participation have beneficial effects on marriage results, whereas rural residency is a risk factor. There are significant regional differences, reflecting the locations of geographically disparate religious, racial, and social elements. The following study addresses a gap in the knowledge of the Indonesian determinants of child marriage. There seems to be little tolerance for child marriage by girls and young people, suggesting an entry point for systemic interventions that might contribute to lasting progress. Future projects should point to cost-effectiveness factors and assist the government and women activists in understanding programs and strategies that can halt child marriage in Indonesia. Society should prioritize vigorous testing of gender-transformative education and methods for economic improvement.

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