Abstract:
The present study discusses child marriage in Mozambique, practices, beliefs and
implications for girls' schooling in the rural context, focusing on primary schools in rural areas. It is
a theme that constitutes the epicenter of current concerns in the area of girls' education and society in general, given the involvement of various actors in order to ensure and promote the
rights of girls in communities, such as, for example, permanence in school and its completion in
regular time. Child marriage is one of the reasons that contribute to the early school dropout of girls
in primary education, and this fact has chain consequences, such as child maternity, female
illiteracy and loss of opportunities in the job market due to lack of professional skills. The main
argument of the study is that child marriage, its practices and beliefs in rural areas negatively
influence girls' schooling. The aim of the research is to understand the implications of child
marriage in the schooling of girls in the rural context and, more specifically, to discuss the legality
issues related to the prevention and combat of child marriage in the Mozambican context; present
the main causes of child marriage involving school-age girls; identify the associated endogenous
factors, practices and beliefs of child marriage in rural communities; to verify the exogenous factors
associated with child marriage practices in rural communities in complete primary schools and; to
describe the implications of child marriage on girls' schooling in the rural context. To meet these
objectives, the study was based on a qualitative methodological approach, using semi-structured
interviews and document analysis as data collection techniques and instruments. Based on the
analysis and discussion of the results, it is concluded that the implications of early marriage in the
schooling of girls in the rural context are the early school dropout of the girl associated with early
pregnancy, child maternity, diseases that make it impossible for the girl to continue studies at
subsequent levels and consequently not to be employed in the labor market.
