Qualitative Study on Adolescent Marriage and The Risk of Stunting in South Kalimantan

Abstract

Objective: An exploratory qualitative investigation to determine the causes of adolescent marriage, analyze the effect of early marriage on stunting, and analyze the food patterns of toddlers in adolescent marriage in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Method: The method used is phenomenology using the FGD system and in-depth interviews. Participants include the FGD informants from the Family Planning Regional Apparatus Organization, the Office of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection and the Office of Religious Affairs from 13 Regencies/ Cities in South Kalimantan. In-depth interview informants were adolescent marriage offenders and their parents, adolescent pregnant women, midwives, integrated health service post cadres, and community leaders each taken from three Regencies/ Cities. Results: There are not many formal adolescent marriages because they have to get a recommendation from the Religious Courts. Adolescent marriages mostly occur through informal marriages. The high rate of early marriage in South Kalimantan Province is caused by culture and weak enforcement of the rules. The incidence of adolescent marriage is caused by promiscuity and information. Meanwhile, adolescent marriage is mostly due to economic motives and limited education facilities in rural areas. Adolescent marriage is not closely related to the incidence of stunting, but low education can be a factor in the inability of parents to provide good parenting, especially feeding pratice. Conclusions: Adolescent marriages appear to be triggered by economic motives and teenagers' desires, as well as driven by economic conditions, social influences, and a lack of encouragement to complete formal education. It was observed that stunting is more common among toddlers with adolescent mothers than toddlers with adult mothers. There is a poor feeding parenting pattern of toddlers with adolescent parents. Key words: Adolescent marriage, Stunting, Qualitative investigation, Toddler feeding pattern.