Child Marriage in Ghana: A Critical Analysis of Victims' and Service Providers' Perceptions and Experience on Support
Translated title
Børneægteskab i Ghana: En kritisk analyse af ofrenes og tjenesteyderens opfattelse og erfaring med støtte
Author
Gariba, Samuel Logoniga
Term
4. Semester
Publication year
2021
Submitted on
2021-06-02
Pages
81
Abstract
Denne deltagende praksisforskning undersøger, hvordan overlevere og andre nøgleaktører opfatter og oplever støtte til ofre for børneægteskab i Ghana. Formålet er at kortlægge den hjælp, der findes, og de barrierer, som socialarbejdere og politiet møder, når de forsøger at hjælpe ofre og personer i risiko. I det nordlige Ghana, hvor praksissen er udbredt, blev 14 deltagere formålsudvalgt. Data stammer fra dybdegående, semistrukturerede interviews med otte overlevere, fire socialarbejdere og to politibetjente. Analysen fulgte en socialkonstruktivistisk grounded theory-tilgang og refleksiv tematisk analyse med et intersektionelt blik (hvordan overlappende sociale faktorer og magtforhold former erfaringer). Fundene peger på, at gennemgribende kontekstuelle og kulturelle hierarkier, sammen med andre forhold, fastholder piger i sårbarhed. Overlevere modtager begrænset støtte fra socialarbejdere og politi, selv om de burde være centrale i hjælpen. Indblanding fra religiøse, traditionelle og politiske aktører svækker indsatsen mod børneægteskaber, så mange piger må kæmpe alene for at slippe fri, mens gerningsmænd ofte går ustraffet.
This participatory practice study examines how survivors and other key stakeholders perceive and experience support for victims of child marriage in Ghana. The aim is to identify available help and the barriers faced by social workers and law enforcement when assisting victims and those at risk. Fourteen participants from northern Ghana, where the practice is prevalent, were purposively sampled. Data came from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with eight survivors, four social workers, and two police officers. Analysis used a social constructivist grounded theory approach and reflexive thematic analysis, applying an intersectionality lens (how overlapping social factors and power structures shape experiences). Findings show that deep-rooted contextual and cultural hierarchies, combined with other factors, keep girls in vulnerable situations. Survivors receive limited support from social workers and police, despite their frontline roles. Interference by religious, traditional, and political actors undermines efforts to combat child marriage, leaving many girls to find their own way out while perpetrators often go unpunished.
[This summary has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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