Khadra Rachedi
Projects for the Dobrogean Colonization of Romanian Communities in Serbia
Khadra Rachedi
Article Information
Pages: 65-90
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24193/RJPS.2025.1.04
Khadra Rachedi*
* University of Oran 2 Mohammed Ben Ahmed, Department of Demography, Algeria, rachedi.khadra@univ-oran2.dz
Abstract. This study seeks to explore the phenomenon of early marriage among women in Algeria, including child marriage, by analysing data from the sixth cluster survey conducted in 2019. The findings reveal that early marriage remains relatively limited in scope, affecting approximately 3.9% of women. Through automatic classification, the study distinguishes two distinct social groups within the sample. The first group, comprising more than half of the women, is marked by social vulnerability and is predominantly located in rural areas. On average, women in this category marry at around 16.22 years of age. They tend to have lower levels of education and live in modest socioeconomic conditions, residing in both urban and rural settings. Early childbearing is closely linked to early marriage, with the average age at first childbirth estimated at 18.8 years. A significant proportion—about one in five—have experienced pregnancy loss due to miscarriage. Moreover, the risk of child mortality among young mothers is alarmingly high, surpassing national averages. The study also highlights a sharp rise in early marriages during the 1990s conflict in Algeria. This increase appears to be a protective response by families, aiming to shield their daughters from violence or sexual threats during a time of instability.
Keywords: early marriage, child marriage, Two-Step cluster method, women’s characteristics, Algeria
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