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Geohuman: People, Place, and Power

Issue: Vol. 1 No. 3 (2026): Vol. 1 No. 3 (2026): Geohuman: People, Place, and Power

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Mapping the Social Geography of Early Marriage: Regional Vulnerability, Family Networks, and Cultural Persistence in Indonesia

Muhammad Zulfi Al'Ghani
Hasriyanti
Nani Anggraini
Ease Arent
Pages: 14-26
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Published: 2026-10-04
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Section: Articles
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69877/geohuman.v1i3.20
early marriage child marriage determinants regional characteristics
Abstract

Early marriage is a multidimensional issue linked to education, poverty, health, gender equality, child protection, and the quality of human resources. Although various policies have been developed to curb the practice of child marriage, it still occurs in various regions of Indonesia with different social, economic, cultural, and geographic characteristics. This study aims to analyze the factors contributing to the persistence of early marriage in Indonesia and to identify the characteristics of regions that are vulnerable to this practice. The study employs a qualitative meta-synthesis approach supported by a comparative analysis of previous research findings. The literature was searched through the academic databases Scopus, SINTA, Copernicus, and Web of Science, covering publications from 2020 to 2025. A total of 50 articles that met the relevance criteria were analyzed based on determining factors, socioeconomic characteristics, educational conditions, family environment, sociocultural norms, and the regional context where early marriage occurs. The results of the synthesis indicate that early marriage is not caused by a single factor but is the result of an interaction between educational limitations, poverty, family economic conditions, sociocultural norms, gender constructs, the influence of family and peers, premarital pregnancy, and the development of the digital environment. Education and economic conditions are key factors.

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How to Cite

Mapping the Social Geography of Early Marriage: Regional Vulnerability, Family Networks, and Cultural Persistence in Indonesia. (2026). Geohuman: People, Place, and Power, 1(3), 14-26. https://doi.org/10.69877/geohuman.v1i3.20

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