User:Kpayne2/sandbox

Prior to the law change in 2015, girls were legally married off at 14 years of age.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/11/guatemala-bans-child-marriage

7% married by 15 years 30% married by 18. poor, indigenous, rural communities

poverty, rigid gender norms, limited access to education, and traditions

older men provide financial support

higher within Mayan communities- poor access to basic services, higher rates of poverty

once married there is pressure to start a family

maternal mortality rate is higher in the region

18 years for men and women as of 2015, previously was 14 for girls and 16 for boys. now genders are held at the same standards

http://www.girlsnotbrides.org/child-marriage/guatemala/#stats-references

quarter of Guatemalan births are to teen moms

http://news.trust.org//item/20151111184347-bhe0h/?source=jtOtherNews3

estimated that 1,500 girls younger than 18 were married every day in 2015

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/02/08/opinion/sunday/exposures-child-bride-mother-stephanie-sinclair.html?_r=0

Child Marriage and Pregnancy

Early marriage for girls is common in Guatemala; the country has one of the highest rates of child marriage in Latin America.[25] As of 2015, men and women must be at least 18 years of age to marry; sometimes exceptions can be made by judges for girls to be married at 16. Previously, girls could be married at 14 and boys could be married at 16. The age was increased and made the same regardless of gender in hopes to hold both men and women to the same standard. It is estimated that 7% of girls are married before 15 years of age and 30% by 18 years of age. Rates are even higher in rural areas where 53% of females are married before they are 18. Some reasons for early marriage is poverty, rigid gender norms, access to education, and tradition. Older men also provide more financial support to these girls. After marriage, girls are expected to start a family and face a lot of pressure to get pregnant. Teen mothers account for a quarter of births in Guatemala. "Complications in pregnancy and childbirth are the second highest cause of death for 15- to 19-year-old girls globally".