The Gender Minister Doreen Sioka said child marriages in Namibia are most prevalent in the Kavango East and West region.During the launch of a child marriage study this morning Sioka said 39.7% of child marriage among women was reported in Kavango regions.
The Kunene follows with 24% of child marriages taking place there while 23.8% happens in the Zambezi region, 23% in Omaheke and 22.6% in Otjozondjupa.
The least prevalence was reported in the Oshana region (7%).
The study found that the main drivers of child marriage were identified as poverty, culture and tradition, early sexual debut, teenage pregnancy, alcohol abuse and lack of educational opportunities.
Sioka said child marriage among women in Namibia is 18.4%, while that for males was considerably lower, 4.1%.
More child marriages in rural areas (22%) than in urban areas (15%).
The minister said although culture and tradition are beautiful some customary practices can potentially encourage child marriages.
