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Survey of the physical and psychological impact on girls subject to early marriage

The practice of early marriage in the Arab world has been on the decline since the 1970s, thanks to general global changes that are impacting on the Middle East – higher education levels, women’s participation in the labor force, and the shifting economic and social empowerment of women. It is a common misconception that early marriage is driven by social norms or religious beliefs; however one of the main drivers is economic. The increasing absolute poverty has caused a spike in early marriage levels in some parts of the Middle East region, including Palestine.

In conjunction with local partners and the community in the Palestinian territories, and with support from the European Commission Humanitarian Aid & Civil Protection Office (ECHO), Médecins du Monde launched a series of 10 workshops in five villages around the city of Nablus in December 2010. Young people in Burin, Madama, Asira, Urif and Einabus were invited to attend early marriage workshops in the local Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC) in their village, with either their mother or father.

The workshops are mixed and the parents are encouraged to participate. This unique approach ensures that both genders are able to interact with, and understand one another, on this very important issue. Topics that are covered include the physiological impact of early marriage, religion, and the psychosocial effects. To date, Médecins du Monde has reached over 320 young people and their parents in and around Nablus through the workshops.

Negative outcomes observed due to early marriage

 Denial of childhood
 Lower levels of education
 Early child-bearing
 Poorer reproductive health
 High fertility
 Higher maternal and infant mortality
 Overall poorer health and well-being
 Higher household poverty


“I was married at 15 and it was a huge responsibility. I was not able to deal with it easily. But I couldn’t stop the marriage taking place. I was too young…”
54 year-old female MdM beneficiary from Einabus

“The main health effects I have seen on young women who have married too early and become pregnant straight away are fetal death; underweight infants; abortion; premature births; and stillbirths. The worst thing is that many of these girls do not have the maturity to deal with such difficult or tragic events… ”
Dr. Najwa Hanoon M.D, Nablus

“Marrying off their daughters is a coping mechanism for some families regardless of what the law says. Families with very limited financial sources may resort to several means of forging their daughters actual age.”
Yara Jarallah, Birzeit University, Palestine

Médecins du Monde works with disadvantaged women all over the world. With one in five women at risk of rape or sexual assault. Violence is the leading cause of death or disability amoung women aged between 15 and 44. Médecins du Monde takes a holistic approach to caring for victims of violence, including both healthcare and psychological support. This approach also includes working, in collaboration with local organizations, to promote recognition of the rights of women affected by violence and helping women to reintegrate into their societies. Currently Médecins du Monde has programmes focused on women’s mental and physical health in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Middle East.