Marriage through abduction ('Telefa') in rural north west Ethiopia
Getahun, H.
Ethiopian Medical Journal 39(2): 105-112
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0014-1755 PMID: 11501287 Document Number: 531454
A community based cross sectional study was conducted in a rural district of North West Ethiopia between February and April 1997 to determine the magnitude of marriage through abduction ('Telefa') and identify problems associated with it. Randomly selected and currently married 1168 women were interviewed. The prevalence of marriage through abduction was 6.2% (72/1168). All the abductions reported were only once in lifetime during the first marriage. The median age at first marriage of abducted women was 13 years, with a range of 13 (minimum 7 years, maximum 20 years). About two thirds (66.7%) of abducted women had been married more than once in their lifetime. Following a multivariate analysis in a logistic regression model abducted women were likely to be victims of abortion (Adjusted OR (95% CI)=1.71 (1.10-3.05)), marital instability (Adjusted OR (95% CI)=1.87 (1.10-3.18)), rape (Adjusted OR (95% CI)=7.77 (3.78-15.95)) and domestic violence (Adjusted OR (95% CI)=1.69 (1.11-2.81)). The recognition of the magnitude and the associated health problems of marriage through abduction ('Telefa') is important. Appropriate strategies that address the health needs of abducted women must be designed. Enforcing the judiciary system to discourage this harmful practise and empowerment of young girls and rural women is needed.