Normas y barreras sociales que dificultan la eliminación del matrimonio infantil, precoz y forzado en Mozambique, Uganda y Etiopía, y respuestas políticas: un estudio cualitativo
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Resumen
Introducción: El matrimonio infantil, precoz y forzado (MIPF) continúa siendo un problema persistente en muchos países de ingresos bajos y medianos. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar las normas sociales contextuales que sostienen el MIPF y explorar los obstáculos que dificultan la implementación de políticas diseñadas para abordarlas en Mozambique, Uganda y Etiopía.
Métodos: Se recopilaron datos cualitativos de un total de 90 participantes. Se llevaron a cabo 42 entrevistas individuales con adolescentes, padres, líderes tradicionales, funcionarios gubernamentales y representantes de organizaciones de la sociedad civil. Además, se organizaron cuatro grupos de discusión con padres, adolescentes, miembros de la comunidad y líderes locales, sumando un total de 48 participantes. El análisis de los datos se realizó mediante un enfoque de análisis temático.
Resultados: Las principales normas sociales que contribuyen al MIPF en los tres países incluyen: el alto valor social atribuido al estatus de maternidad; la mercantilización del matrimonio; su consideración como un rito de paso hacia la adultez; la construcción social de la sexualidad; y el juicio moral colectivo sobre la paternidad responsable. Estas normas se perpetúan porque ofrecen beneficios sociales y económicos a quienes las siguen, como el fortalecimiento de los vínculos comunitarios y una mejora del estatus social. Aunque se han promulgado políticas y leyes para afrontar estas normas, su impacto ha sido limitado. Los principales obstáculos a su implementación incluyen la escasa integración de las normas sociales en los marcos legales y políticos, la débil colaboración entre los actores clave, la falta de procesos sistemáticos de seguimiento, y la dificultad de comprensión de dichas políticas por parte de las comunidades, debido a bajos niveles de alfabetización y una limitada difusión de las mismas.
Conclusiones: Para fortalecer la respuesta política frente a las normas sociales que perpetúan el MIPF, es necesario promover una colaboración más estrecha entre las organizaciones no gubernamentales, los organismos gubernamentales y los líderes comunitarios, tanto en la implementación como en el monitoreo de las políticas.
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