Unmasking vulnerabilities: The impact of COVID-19 on the determinants of child marriage in South Asia
Summary & Objectives
This study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic altered the drivers, dynamics, and consequences of child marriage in South Asia, with a focus on Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. Using qualitative, participatory methods, it explores how pandemic-related shocks interacted with pre-existing structural, social, and household-level vulnerabilities to influence marriage decisions and the lived experiences of married girls. The objective was to generate policy-relevant evidence to inform child-marriage programming in crisis and public-health response contexts, particularly under the UNFPA–UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage.
Findings
The pandemic intensified known drivers of child marriage rather than creating entirely new ones. School closures, income loss, service disruptions, and increased insecurity reduced protective factors and pushed families toward child marriage as a coping strategy. Gender and social norms were reinforced, with marriage often viewed as a means of protection or economic relief. Girls already married experienced reduced agency, heightened domestic and care burdens, increased exposure to violence, and limited access to health, education, and social support services. These effects were most pronounced among poorer and marginalized communities.
Recommendations
Responses to child marriage in crisis contexts must be multisectoral and crisis-responsive. Education continuity, social protection, and access to adolescent-friendly health and protection services should be prioritized during emergencies. Interventions must address gender norms while strengthening systems that protect girls before and after marriage. Programming should be tailored to the specific vulnerabilities of marginalized groups and integrated into broader public-health and humanitarian response frameworks.
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