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School Dropout, Child Marriage, and Early Pregnancy among Adolescent Girls in Rural Honduras

2020; University of Chicago Press; Volume: 64; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1086/710766

1545-701X

Erin Murphy‐Graham, Alison K. Cohen, Diana Pacheco-Montoya,

Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health

This article examines intersections between schooling, child marriage, and adolescent pregnancy in a longitudinal, mixed-methods study of Honduran girls. It explores (a) girls’ enrollment and dropout of school patterns and how these relate to timing of marriage and/or childbirth, (b) the factors associated with dropout, early marriage, and/or early childbearing, and (c) reenrollment patterns after marriage/childbirth. We find that household income in early adolescence predicts school dropout, early union, and early childbearing. Most girls discontinued their studies due to lack of financial resources or no longer wanting to be a student rather than due to marriage or motherhood. Only a small percentage return to school. This study can inform the timing and nature of efforts to protect girls and increase their chances of successfully completing secondary school, delaying marriage, and preventing early pregnancy.