Early marriage and associated factors among married women in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis

Early marriage (marriage before 18 years of age) and its associated factors in Sub-Saharan Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular are varied, complex, and interrelated due to several risk factors that are not fully quantified in Ethiopia. As a result, the current systematic review and meta-analysis address this issue. The PRISMA and PIOS were adapted for the flow diagram and eligible criteria, respectively. Databases and registers were employed for search engines between 2014 and 2023. MeSH was utilized, as were the keywords. STATA version 17 was used for analysis, and the odds ratios of the outcome variable were determined using the random-effects model. We assessed heterogeneity among the studies using I 2 and p -values, and we performed a funnel plot to assess publication bias. A total of 183 records were searched from the databases (178) and registers (5). From 29, 938 people ( n = 11646, 39%), ( n = 9262, 31%), ( n = 7659, 26%), ( n = 385, 1%), and ( n = 986, 3%) were found from three regional states, EDHS, Amhara, Oromia, and Harari, respectively. The national pooled prevalence of early marriage among eligible married women in Ethiopia was 53.07% [95% CI: 50.08, 56.07, p < 0.05] and ranges from 33.70% [14.10, 53.30] to 76.70% [66.90, 86.50). The factors associated with early marriage were being poor (AOR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.48, p -value < 0.05), being rural residence (AOR=1.71, 95% CI: 1.56, 1.87, p -value<0.001), and parental decision making (AOR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.14, 2.03, p -value < 0.001). The current review found that despite the existence of a prohibitive legal standard, early marriage persists in Ethiopia, indicating a significant gap between law and practice. This continuity is linked primarily to poverty, rural residence, and parental decision-making, underscoring necessary focal points for future efforts.