Child Marriage Acceptability Index (CMAI): South and Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract ObjectivesThis study aims to assess child marriage acceptability in the two locations in Indonesia by gender inequality, financial security, education rates, legal frameworks, dowry, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).MethodsThis study used a quantitative approach with a cross sectional study design. A total of 1,000 respondents consisting of 500 households in Bone District, South Sulawesi and 500 households in Palu, Sigi, Donggala District in Central Sulawesi participated in the study. Data analyses were conducted based on the Acceptability Child Marriage Index (ACMI) by using the bivariate correlation, ANOVA (analysis of variance) and logistic regression.ResultsThis study found several significant factors contributed to child marriage acceptance in Central and South Sulawesi: household financial security (p=0.016), dowry (p=0.000) and legal frameworks (p=0.017) based on ANOVA analysis. After conducting bivariate correlation, dowry (p=0.000) and sexual and gender-based violence (p=0.000) remain significant factors. Dowry (p=0.000, with expected B=0.122), and sexual and gender-based violence (p=0.001, with expected B=0.064) remains significant after the linear regression analysis.ConclusionsDowry practice and sexual and gender-based violence were the most significant factors contributing to the child marriage acceptance in Central and South Sulawesi. There is a need to conduct interventions to prevent child marriage including providing sexual and reproductive health education.