Legal Protection for Adolescents Against Reproductive Health Rights in Minor Marriages

Authors

  • Fitriani Nur Damayanti Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang, Tembalang, Kota Semarang, Jawa Tengah 50273, Indonesia
  • Puji Nor Fatimah Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang, Tembalang, Kota Semarang, Jawa Tengah 50273, Indonesia
  • Siti Nurjanah Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang, Tembalang, Kota Semarang, Jawa Tengah 50273, Indonesia
  • Sandeep Poddar Research & Innovation Division, Lincoln University College, Wisma Lincoln, No. 12-18, Jalan SS 6/12, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2025.v16i04.028

Abstract

Background: Indonesia ranks seventh highest in the world in terms of early marriage, with many teenagers under the age of 19 years, entering early marriage in Demak City. To describe and analyse the implementation of legal protection for teenagers regarding reproductive health rights in underage marriages, in Mranggen District, Demak Regency. Methods: Descriptive analytic with a qualitative sociological juridical approach, as well as purposive sampling a sample of 11 informants. Primary data was obtained through interviews, documents from related in-situations, and direct observation, while secondary data was extracted from books, journals, and other literature. Data collection techniques include field and library studies, with data processing through examination, verification, classification and systematisation of data, which is then analysed qualitatively. Results: The findings of the study on Legal Protection of Adolescent Reproductive Health Rights in Underage Marriage in Mranggen Regency, Demak Regency, show that there is still a lack of knowledge regarding the rights of adolescent protection, especially regarding legal protection for women who marry underage. Conclusion: Adolescent knowledge of reproductive health rights in underage marriage shows the need for a comprehensive approach in addressing this challenge. Although there are regulations governing the age limit for marriage and dispensation procedures, their implementation is still closely related to social and cultural factors in society.

Keywords:

Early Marriage, Legal Protection, Reproductive Health Rights, Teenagers

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adedokun, O., Adeyemi, O., & Dauda, C. (2016). Child marriage and maternal health risks among young mothers in Gombi, Adamawa State, Nigeria: Implications for mortality, entitlements and freedoms. African Health Sciences, 16(4), 986–999. https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v16i4.15

Beckwith, S., Chandra-Mouli, V., & Blum, R. W. (2024). Trends in adolescent health: Successes and challenges from 2010 to the present. Journal of Adolescent Health, 75(4), S9-S19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.04.015

Beyene, S. A., Garoma, S., & Belachew, T. (2024). Addressing disparity in attitudes and utilization of family planning among married couples in the pastoralist community of Fentale District, Eastern Ethiopia. PLoS One, 19(9). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0308633

Boku, G. G., Abeya, S. G., Ayers, N., & Wordofa, M. A. (2024). The effect of school-linked module-based friendly-health education on adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health knowledge, Guji zone, Ethiopia - cluster randomized controlled trial. Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics, 15(0), 5–18. https://doi.org/10.2147/ahmt.s441957

Chan, S. L., Thumboo, J., Boivin, J., Saffari, S. E., Yin, S., Yeo, S. R., Chan, J. K. Y., Ng, K. C., Chua, K.-H., & Yu, S. L. (2022). Effect of fertility health awareness strategies on fertility knowledge and childbearing in young married couples (FertStart): Study protocol for an effectiveness-implementation hybrid type I multicentre three-arm parallel group open-label randomised clini. BMJ Open, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051710

Cunningham, J. K., & Saleh, A. A. (2024). Structural stigma, racism, and sexism studies on substance use and mental health: A review of measures and designs. Alcohol Research : Current Reviews, 44(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.35946/arcr.v44.1.08

Damayanti, F. N., Absori, A., & Wardiono, K. (2019a). Legal protection based on trancendental perspective against child sexual abuse in Indonesia. Medico-Legal Update, 19(2), 331–335. https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-1283.2019.00198.1

Damayanti, F. N., Absori, A., & Wardiono, K. (2019b). Legal protection of midwives based on professional justice in midwifery practices. In Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development 10(4), 437–441. https://doi.org/10.5958/0976-5506.2019.00734.4

Damayanti, F. N., Absori, A., Wardiono, K., & Rejeki, S. (2020). The evidence-based midwife professionalism. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 14(3), 1877–1881. https://doi.org/10.37506/ijfmt.v14i3.10699

Damayanti, F. N., Lutfitasari, A., Santosa, B., Prakasiwi, S. I., Suparman, & Anggraini, N. N. (2024). Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends and Novelty of Midwifery Policy. Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.25159/2520-5293/14031

Daraz, U., Khan, Y., Alnajdawi, A. M., & Alsawalqa, R. O. (2023). Empowering hearts and shaping destinies: unveiling the profound influence of education on women’s mate selection in Pakistan – a comprehensive mixed-methods study. Frontiers in Sociology, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2023.1273297

Ding, C. (2023). Chinese legal response to the shared motherhood model in lesbians’ family-making. Journal of Law and the Biosciences, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/jlb/lsad015

General Assembly, U. N. (1989). Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved from: http://www.hrweb.org/legal/child.html. Accessed on 10th August, 2024.

Hellwig, F., Moreira, L. R., Silveira, M. F., Vieira, C. S., Rios-Quituizaca, P. B., Masabanda, M., Serucaca, J., Rudasingwa, S., Nyandwi, A., Mulu, S., Rashad, H., & Barros, A. J. D. (2024). Policies for expanding family planning coverage: Lessons from five successful countries. Frontiers in Public Health, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1339725

Howe, K. (2025). Differential outcomes: Early marriage, marital identity and mental health of displaced female youth in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/17450128.2025.2457041

Kechagia, P. (2025). Vulnerable girls and child marriage in rural Asia: A systematic review. Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/17450128.2025.2489972

Kleprlikova, H., Kalis, V., Lucovnik, M., Rusavy, Z., Blaganje, M., Thakar, R., & Ismail, K. M. (2019). Manual perineal protection: The know‐how and the know‐why. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 99(4), 445–450. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.13781

Liu, C., Jiao, Y., Su, L., Liu, W., Zhang, H., Nie, S., & Gong, M. (2024). Effective privacy protection strategies for pregnancy and gestation information from electronic medical records: Retrospective study in a national health care data network in China. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26. https://doi.org/10.2196/46455

Mwakawanga, D. L., Massae, A. F., Kohli, N., Lukumay, G. G., Rohloff, C. T., Mushy, S. E., Mgopa, L. R., Mkoka, D. A., Mkonyi, E., Trent, M., Ross, M. W., Rosser, B. R. S., & Connor, J. (2024). The need for and acceptability of a curriculum to train nursing and medical students in the sexual healthcare of clients with female genital mutilation/cutting in Tanzania. BMC Women’s Health, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03034-x

Namanda, C., Atuyambe, L., Ssali, S., Mukose, A., Tumwesigye, N. M., Makumbi, F. E., Tweheyo, R., Gidudu, A., Sekimpi, C., Hashim, C. V., Nicholson, M., & Ddungu, P. (2023). A qualitative study of influences on the uptake of contraceptive services among people of reproductive age in Uganda. BMC Women’s Health, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02274-7

Nhampoca, J. M., & Maritz, J. E. (2024). Early marriage, education and mental health: Experiences of adolescent girls in Mozambique. Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1278934

Pretorius, D., & Ruch, A. (2025). Domestic violence: Screening and management in South Africa. South African Family Practice, 67(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v67i1.6000

Sartika, D. D., Martinus Danang, P., Gita, I., & and Soraida, S. (2025). A bibliometric analysis of financial service providers’ best efforts to address child sexual exploitation. Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/17450128.2025.2452562

Scanteianu, A., Schwandt, H. M., Boulware, A., Corey, J., Herrera, A., Hudler, E., Imbabazi, C., King, I., Linus, J., Manzi, I., Merritt, M., Mezier, L., Miller, A., Morris, H., Musemakweli, D., Musekura, U., Mutuyimana, D., Ntakarutimana, C., Patel, N., … Feinberg, S. (2022). “…the availability of contraceptives is everywhere.”: coordinated and integrated public family planning service delivery in Rwanda. Reproductive Health, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-022-01325-w

Sripad, P., Pinchoff, J., Dadi, C., & Dougherty, L. (2024). Measuring social norms related to child marriage among married women and men in Niger. PLoS One, 19(7). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0307595

Wahi, A., Zaleski, K. L., Lampe, J., Bevan, P., & Koski, A. (2019). The lived experience of child marriage in the United States. Social Work in Public Health, 34(3), 201-213. https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2019.1575312

World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). State of the world's nursing 2020: Investing in education, jobs and leadership.

Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240003279. Accessed on 21st January, 2024.

Wollum, A., Key, K., Mersha, T., Nicholson, M., Page, G., Austen, K., Endale, M. E., & Moseson, H. (2025). Does a values clarification and attitudes transformation (VCAT) workshop influence provider attitudes, knowledge, and service provision related to abortion care?: Evidence from a mixed-methods longitudinal randomised controlled trial in Ethiopia. Global Public Health, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2025.2465643

Zeleke, E. D., Assefa, D. G., Woldesenbet, T. T., Gido, R., Mengistu, N., & Molla, W. (2022). Utilization of long acting and permanent contraceptive methods and associated factor among women of reproductive age in west Guji zone, Southwest Ethiopia. Reproductive Health, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-022-01337-6

Published

30-04-2025

How to Cite

Nur Damayanti, F. ., Nor Fatimah, P., Nurjanah, S., & Poddar, S. . (2025). Legal Protection for Adolescents Against Reproductive Health Rights in Minor Marriages . The Malaysian Journal of Nursing (MJN), 16(4), 286-294. https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2025.v16i04.028

Metrics