Child marriage in Yemen: a mixed methods study in ongoing conflict and displacement

Abstract Objectives: This study assesses the prevalence of and risk factors for child marriage in Yemen, which was experiencing a nationwide conflict at time study. Study Design: We conducted survey internally displaced persons (IDPs) host communities using stratified multistage cluster sampling design. Each household included an interview with female adult (n=1210), roster (n=8400), one adolescent (n=1210). used multivariate logistic regression to assess association between various factors. also data from focus groups (n=411) key informant interviews (n=30) explore community perspectives understand contextual relating marriage. Results: Prevalence among IDP females aged 10-19 18.1% compared 12.7% hosts. In model, being older (aOR=1.95), never attending school (aOR=3.94), place origin Saada (aOR=4.41), unemployment (aOR=2.84) showed increased odds Head (aOR=0.58) completed higher education (aOR=0.42) decreased odds. Qualitatively, economic were cited as central decision-making, both even more so IDPs. Perceptions readiness negative consequences dependent on gender normative expectations. Conclusions: Displaced girls experience than boys or . Displacement effects security power dynamics, affects decision-making girl s ability self-advocate. Efforts address Yemen should include livelihood support, awareness management components that start pre-adolescence married unmarried girls.