Consent and Conflict: Factors Associated with Premarital Decision-Making for Young Women in Conflict-Affected Settings in Yemen

Background . Although the rate of child, early, and forced marriage (CEFM) has decreased over the last decade, one in five girls globally will still be married before age 18. While research has identified drivers of child marriage, less attention has been paid to understanding the involvement of young women themselves in the process of marriage, including their decision-making and potential motivations to marry when living in humanitarian settings characterized by poverty and limited opportunities. This study uses quantitative and qualitative data to explore factors associated with perceived involvement in decision-making at time of first marriage among young women in Yemen. Methods . The data for this study come from the Early Marriage Early Childbearing (EMEC) study, which was conducted in 2022 in the governorates of Aden, Hadramout, and Ma’arib. This analysis uses data from 991 quantitative surveys and 47 in-depth interviews with married young women. We use logistic regression to examine the association between child marriage and autonomy in decision-making around marriage. We then conduct thematic analysis of in-depth interviews to examine decision-making processes and motivations in marriage. Results . Among the 991 ever-married female respondents, approximately 55% were married before 18 years of age and half had been displaced. After controlling for covariates, child marriage and displacement status were significantly associated with reduced involvement in marital decision-making. Child brides had 85% greater odds of reporting little or no involvement in the decision to marry than did those married at age 18 or older, and displaced young women had 36% greater odds than did those not displaced. Qualitative data illustrate the significant familial and social pressures that girls and young women face to accept proposals and the diverse understandings of what marriage readiness entails. Conclusions . We find that young women report a relatively high level of decision-making surrounding marriage, although involvement was significantly lower for those who married before age 18 and for those displaced. The qualitative data highlight that despite such reported involvement, girls live within contexts of limited choice, including norms that support child marriage, lack of educational or labor opportunities, and challenging conditions in the home.