The “puberty deadline”: cultural constructions of maturity, anticipated shame, and child marriage as a perceived risk-mitigation strategy in rural Niger
Jean Christophe Fotso, Aichatou Hamadou, Ferdinard Ngong, Paul Bukuluki · 2026
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Description
Jean Christophe Fotso, Aichatou Hamadou, Ferdinard Ngong, and Paul Bukuluki explored in 2026 why child marriage is common in rural Niger, through interviews and group work in the Maradi region. They describe a local idea they call the puberty deadline. When a girl's periods begin, she is reclassified in the eyes of the community from child to woman.
That shift sparks parental fear of sex before marriage and the shame of pregnancy outside it. Marriage is then seen as a way to head off risk, alongside pressure from poverty. Some girls quietly use contraception, sometimes with their mothers' knowledge, to protect their standing while delaying marriage. The authors say lasting change must address both cultural stories and economic desperation.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Jean Christophe Fotso, Aichatou Hamadou, Ferdinard Ngong, Paul Bukuluki |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 58 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |