Review: child marriage

When Jane Kubai fled forced marriage at the age of 11, she began working as a maid and found support to go to school. She later took a job as a security guard at a hospital in Kenya — and discovered a passion for surgery. Working day and night, Kubai studied to become a theatre technologist. And she has her eyes fixed firmly on becoming a surgeon.

However, Jane is the exception. Eight of the ten countries in the world with the highest rates of child marriage are in Africa. According to the United Nations, 37 per cent of young women in Sub-Saharan Africa are married before they turn 18. 

This week, we revisit the issue of child marriage, and hear from biostatistician and maternal health researcher Halima Twabi, who tells us why she’s working to keep girls studying, and why powering and supporting women’s passion for science, technology, engineering and maths is so important.

Catch up on the full interviews included in today’s show:

From security gates to the operating room

Science leaders ‘can tackle child marriage’

Africa Science Focus, with Harrison Lewis. 

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