The Phenomenon of Child Marriage in Jepara and Its Prevention Strategies

The rise of child marriage cases under the age of 19 in Indonesia is very concerning. Thus, strategies and prevention efforts are needed. The purpose of this research is to analyze data on child marriage cases in the Jepara Region and as a forum for participating in carrying out outreach activities to suppress child marriage cases in the Jepara Region.The research used in this case is field research or field research by applying the case study method which is packaged in a qualitative descriptive manner. This research was conducted in the Jepara area. Data collection techniques in this study are by observing, interviewing, and document analysis. The results of the study show that child marriage in Jepara is increasing every year from 2020 to 2023. The causes of early marriage are influenced by several factors, including education, customs, environment, and the economy are the dominant factors triggering child marriage. The impacts caused by child marriage are health, psychology and domestic violence, the economy, and divorce. Several strategies to reduce cases of child marriage that can be carried out are through socialization regarding the dangers of child marriage, holding life skills to help hone skills, as well as digital platforms which are currently widely used by the community so that access to information distribution on the dangers of child marriage can be widely accessed


INTRODUCTION
Child marriage is a problem that is currently a problem in Indonesia. Early marriage is the marriage of teenagers who are under 19 years of age who should not be ready to enter into a marriage. The risk of pregnancy in adolescence is also very vulnerable (Sezgin, A. U., & Punamäki, R. L. 2020: 23(2)). Adolescence is a period when emotional conditions are not yet stable, and high emotional conditions dominate more than normal conditions. So that it creates a condition that makes emotions in adolescents turn into attitudes or behaviors that  The rise of young marriages experienced by adolescents under the age of 20 is still a phenomenon in Indonesia. In the law chapter II, article 6 paragraph 2 states that in entering into a marriage, someone who is not yet 21 years old must first obtain permission from their parents. However, in Article 7 paragraph 1 it is stated that parties are permitted to enter into marriage if the man has reached the age of 19 and the woman has reached the age of 16. If there is a deviation from paragraph 1, one can ask for a dispensation from the court or other officials appointed by the parents (K. Wantjik Saleh: 1987; Lina Dina Maudina: 2019). The ideal age for marriage for women is around the age of 21-25 years, while for men it is 25-28 years (Dwi Rifiani: 2011). At the age of 21-25 for women, the reproductive organs have developed well, apart from that, psychological development is considered ripe for carrying out a marriage and prospective parents for their children. Whereas for men aged 25-28 years is the ripe age to support the family, protect it, protect it psychologically, emotionally, socially and economically in the family. The benefits of getting married at an adult age in terms of the psychological and mentality of both parents to educate their children are ready, in terms of the economy both parties have got a steady job and enough to support the sustainability of their family materially. Whereas in terms of health, the reproductive organs at an adult age are ready to reproduce so that it will reduce problems in reproductive health and young maternal mortality because the reproductive organs at a young age are not ready to reproduce.
Child marriage is an unhealthy marriage. It is said to be unhealthy because child marriage has a very big impact. Marriage at an early age is a serious problem because it has an impact on all aspects such as psychology, health, social and economics (Rika & Muhammad Azniar. 2022: 115). According toWorld Health Organization (WHO) Child 36 of 2009 provides a limit to marry at the age of 20 for several reasons. One of these reasons is to prevent the high rate of cervical cancer and other infectious diseases (A. Syarifuddin, 2007). Therefore, child marriage under 19 years of age should and should not be carried out considering the many risks that may occur to the child and his mother as well as the many impacts caused by child marriage. While the other reason is because to avoid adultery. Based on data for 2021-2022, it can be concluded that cases of child marriage in the Jepara area have increased significantly.
This study aims to find out data on child marriage cases in the Jepara Region as well as a forum for participating in helping the government carry out outreach activities to suppress child marriage cases in the Jepara Region. In addition, knowing the factors and impacts caused by child marriage so that the results of this study can be mapped.

Research Method
The research used in this case is field research or field research by applying the case study method which is packaged in a qualitative descriptive manner with the aim of conducting detailed exploration and analysis of factors, processes, events, and impacts regarding the rise of the phenomenon of child marriage in Jepara. This is in line with Creswell's opinion that case studies are a qualitative research method, in which a researcher explores in detail about programs, processes, events, activities of a person or many people (Creswell, 2017). The research location is Jepara, Central Java, Indonesia. Jepara was chosen as the research location because of the high prevalence of child marriage in the area. Not only are child marriage cases high, but divorce cases in Jepara are also high.
Data collection techniques in this study were observing, interviewing, and document analysis. The objects in the observation activities were 12 parents and 12 children who had early marriages. In addition, as many as 47 parents and 47 children who did not engage in child marriage were also the objects of observation in the study. Interviews are a technique in research that aims to obtain information through two-way communication activities (Piaw, 2016). It can be interpreted that there is direct interaction between the interviewer and the (Kemenko PMK) explained that child marriage in Indonesia is ranked 8th in the world. In fact, it is ranked 2nd in ASEAN. One of the areas in Indonesia that contributes to many cases of child marriage is Jepara Regency, which is an area on the north coast of Java island which is included in Central Java Province which has many cases of child marriage.  Indah Novani Wahyuningtyas, Vanessa Almayra Nugraha marriage and sex before marriage in Jepara is motivated by several factors that must be thoroughly investigated with the aim of avoiding, pressing, and looking for accurate and effective solutions to problems that continue to the present.

b. Causes of Child Marriage
Humans are social creatures who need each other. In living human life, it is only natural to get married. According to the Population and Family Planning Agency or BKKBN, the age of a woman who is said to be ready to marry is 21 years old and a man is 25 years old. This age is taken by considering many aspects such as psychological, educational, economic, and health. But unfortunately this is inversely proportional to the situation in Jepara where there are many cases of child marriage.
The following are the factors that trigger the high rate of child marriage:

Educational Factors
On average, child marriages occur among children with low educational backgrounds, such as elementary and junior high school graduates. For example, in Jepara, the number of marriage applications for children with elementary school graduates was 62 and 188 junior high school graduates. The number of children unable to continue their education was also influenced by economic factors. Their parents couldn't afford it anymore so they decided to get married. There is a lot of stigma from the Jepara community that assumes that girls only have the task of taking care of the household and their economic needs will be borne by their sons or husbands. So that women are considered not necessary to go to higher education.
In fact, adequate education will affect the way a person thinks and responds to a problem. Highly educated children, especially girls, will influence mindsets, attitudes, and with higher education, women will be valued more. It can be interpreted that with less education, especially marriage at a young age, it will make someone think that at their age they should not think of such things as marrying young. The lack of education also affects the quality of decision making.
Low education will affect someone to marry at a young age. This is in line with research conducted by (Pramana, et al, 2017) where the results showed that low levels of education, namely at the elementary and junior high school levels, were caused by a lack of economy, which required them to drop out of school and choose to marry. Even though living life requires good skills in dealing with existing problems. Psychological maturity also influences one's education and decision making (Soraya, 2018).
Adequate parental education also influences efforts to reduce the age of child marriage. This is because with adequate parental education and quality relationships they will direct their children to excel in studying first compared to getting married at the age of the child. Parents have a role in the ongoing child marriage which is related to the level of knowledge and education of parents (Anggraini, 2017).
Education is very important to give to children. By providing good education, it will encourage the improvement of the quality of human resources so that it will affect various sectors, one of which is the economy. Children should be used as future assets that must be maintained and nurtured. However, children, especially girls, are often treated as a burden on the family, discriminated against, and handed over to men when marriage arrives (Lal, 2013). Many people think of minimizing expenses by marrying off their daughters without thinking about the consequences of child marriage or child marriage.

Customs and Cultural Factors
Another factor that influences child marriage is customs and culture. The culture in question is child marriage which is passed down from generation to generation until it becomes a common thing and becomes a culture. Most parents who marry at a young age will be imitated by their offspring, especially female offspring. This is supported by research that shows that socio-cultural adolescents or children marry due to influences from the environment where parents will feel embarrassed if their 20-year-old child does not get married (Anwar & Ernawati, 2017).
Customs are a factor in child marriage where a woman's family may not reject a man who will ask for her hand. Supported by the existence of stigma from the underlying society, children who already look physically large must be married off immediately to avoid pregnancy incidents outside of marriage. In addition, marrying The Phenomenon of Child Marriage in Jepara and Its Prevention Strategies Indah Novani Wahyuningtyas, Vanessa Almayra Nugraha a woman who is young and has a low background will result in a minimum marriage dowry. If women have a higher status, it is feared that they will demand many things from men. In addition, women with mature education and age are considered more dominant and tend to rule in married life (Lal, 2013).

Economic Factors
Another factor that influences the high rate of child marriage is the economic factor. Marriages that occur in childhood are caused by poor or poor family economic conditions. Therefore, often children and parents think that by getting married it will reduce the burden on parents. If they are married, the burden on parents will be reduced by one. This is in line with research conducted among Roma girls in Serbia that child marriage is influenced by poverty (Hotchkiss, 2016). A difficult economy has a significant relationship with someone after marriage. Women who graduate to become a scholar have a responsibility in terms of economic independence and many of them experience delays in getting married (RB, 2014).

Environmental factor
Environmental factors are one of the factors that encourage child marriage.
Many friends who marry at a young age can influence their friends to marry too.
Besides the influence of the friendly environment, there is also the influence of the location where you live. The condition of a quiet living environment or being in a rural area can also affect the high rate of child marriage.
An environment that tends to be quiet and family members have their own activities and preoccupations makes children feel lonely. He feels that he needs someone to accompany him, most of them are friends of the opposite sex. Initially as friends, but if you feel comfortable it can cause excessive love (Faltynkova, et al, 2017). At this stage a child or teenager will easily fall for seduction, temptation, especially if given a gift. The unstable psychological state encourages them to do and try new things that they have never done or can be called premarital sex.
The age category of children or adolescents is very vulnerable to sexual behavior before marriage. This can happen because of promiscuity until they have premarital sex. The result of this sex is pregnancy out of wedlock so the solution is to marry off the child even at a young age. Mass media that contain sexual or pornographic elements will become knowledge that is less educational for teenagers.
Teenagers or children at this stage are very happy to try and imitate (Tampubolon, 2021).

Factors Lack of Knowledge about Reproductive Health
Lack of knowledge about health, especially reproductive health, is a factor that causes high child marriage. This lack of knowledge makes children careless and reckless in following fleeting desires and desires without thinking about the negative consequences of their actions. Material or knowledge about health, especially reproductive health, is an important thing that must be known by children or adolescents so that they understand the adverse effects that will occur if they have sex freely and outside of marriage. As a result of children's ignorance related to reproductive health will result in unwanted pregnancies, miscarriages, below normal baby weight, namely 2.5 kg, maternal death, cervical cancer, and sexually transmitted diseases (Rahman, et al., 2018).
Information about health, especially reproductive health, can be obtained by children or adolescents from teachers at school and the role of parents at home.
Children who marry early have low knowledge about reproductive health so they are not afraid to have sex freely outside of marriage (Yao, et al., 2016;Vananda, Simarjeet and Manisha, 2017). They relate to the extent of wanting to show love and affection without thinking about the impact of free sex.

c. Impact of Child Marriage
The impacts arising from child marriage are as follows:

Health
Marriage that occurs at a young age will have an adverse impact on health.
Especially for women, before the end of 20 years the uterus is still developing and not ready to be fertilized. So that when a woman becomes pregnant at the age of less than 20 years, there will be many unfavorable impacts, such as a greater chance of experiencing cervical cancer, uterine cancer, anemia or lack of blood which is certainly very dangerous for pregnant women, miscarriage and even death. Girls who are pregnant and give birth at the age of 10-14 years have five times the risk of dying Not only the health of a mother is threatened but the health of the baby is also threatened. As a result of a difficult delivery the baby will be disturbed and experience hypoxia due to swallowing amniotic fluid (Yanti., et al, 2018). Even if the child succeeds in being born, it is possible that he will be born with a weight below normal or under 2.5 kg. In addition, children born to young or child-aged mothers also have the opportunity to carry serious congenital diseases.
Nowadays, many children are stunted. Based on data recorded by the Jepara District Health Office which was updated on November 3, 2022, a total of 7,227 children in Jepara were stunted. Stunting is a child's growth disorder due to chronic malnutrition. Stunting is caused because children do not get enough nutrition so that they experience growth and development disorders. Not only physically but also the ability to think or the brain also experiences delays in growth and development.
Stunted children must immediately get further treatment and fulfill their nutrition, such as consuming lots of coconut milk and milk. In fact, stunted children are affected by several factors that cause malnutrition in children, such as the age of the mother's marriage, the mother's low education, and the mother's nutritional status (Khan, et al., 2019).

Economy
Getting married at a young age certainly makes their needs less fulfilled because when they get married they don't pay attention to the elements of stability and maturity. Adequacy is not only interpreted as luxury or excessive where mature, what is meant in this case is having a good job. By having a job, they will be able to meet their needs. Needs are divided into three namely primary, secondary, and tertiary needs. Primary needs are basic needs that must be met in the family such as clothing, food and shelter. While the second need is secondary needs such as health Child marriage encourages a cycle that is not good, namely the "cycle of poverty" because at the age of their children they do not yet have an established job which is also influenced by a low level of education. This is why married children are the responsibility of the family, especially the son's family or in this case the husband's family. This incident also resulted in the male family's burden increasing. Not only bearing family life, but now there is one new member, namely his wife, his child, whose needs must be met. Incidents like this will occur from generation to generation so that they are gradually considered a normal thing but will have a major impact on increasing the poverty rate (Djamilah & Reni, 2014.)

Psychology and Domestic Violence
Child marriage has an impact on their mental readiness to face household life. A husband and wife who are classified as children are not ready to change themselves to play a role and carry out their duties as a wife or husband. Problems that arise during marriage are not ready to be faced by married couples after children because psychologically children have unstable emotions and their anger easily explodes. In dealing with children's problems, they often feel regret for sacrificing their youth and schooling just to get married quickly. Marriage is not about who is the fastest but determines the most appropriate safety.
The result of this unstable emotion triggers both physical and verbal violence.
Child-aged couples are more prone to fights and physical violence (Iustitiani, & Ajisukmo., 2018). Conditions of fighting also often occur because their household relations are interfered with by their parents. Childish, self-indulgent, and selfish attitudes are also the underlying factors behind conflicts in child marriages. Violence that occurs can cause a person to become traumatized and even think about ending his life.
Women who are pregnant at a young age tend to be more isolated and limit themselves to their environment. This is because they feel ashamed, insecure, and lack self-confidence due to the changing roles of children who are still in school age The Phenomenon of Child Marriage in Jepara and Its Prevention Strategies Indah Novani Wahyuningtyas, Vanessa Almayra Nugraha to become wives and even mothers at a young age. The parenting style of parents who are young or at the age of a child affects their children where they have not been able to give maximum affection, attention and upbringing due to the factor of parents who are still children or young. (Setiyaningrum, 2015). Young mothers or children have less ability to decide on nutrition, household management, and health care (Sofi, 2017)

Divorce
Child marriage will have an unfavorable impact such as infidelity and divorce.
Cheerfulness is motivated by the emotional or psychological background of those who are not ready to marry, thus triggering quarrels. Disputes are not only about big or complex things, but even small things can trigger quarrels among child-aged married couples. Quarrels that sometimes lead to violence also lead to divorce.

Table 2. Divorce Cases in Jepara
Divorce in Jepara is classified as very high. Evidenced by the statement made in prison, and 1 other case of domestic violence. The high rate of divorce and child marriage in Jepara must be taken seriously and a solution is needed in handling it to make Jepara free of child marriage and minimal divorce.

d. Strategies for Child Marriage
There are many impacts or effects arising from child marriage. However, in this study will provide a strategy to overcome these problems. The strategy raised and made unique in this research isusually(Sodamn,Thatfe skills, and Platdigital form) which is expected to be able to reduce the number of child marriages.

Socialization
Socialization is a step that must be taken to overcome the high child marriage in Jepara. Teenagers should be given insight, assistance, and education that does not only rely on teachers at school. Conducting marriage counseling for children in their teens is a solution to reduce child marriage rates (Pinem., et al. 2021). Because basically knowledge is not only obtained in the school world but can also be obtained from friends, the environment, and parents.
It is very important that children or adolescents in Jepara are given socialization about maturing the age of marriage, the effects of child marriage, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, family functions and the importance of life skills that a person must have. Socialization is not only carried out in the sub-districts or downtown Jepara, but remote areas or villages in Jepara are more at risk of child marriage.
Socialization is an activity that provides support and describes a caring attitude towards someone (Allen, David G & Linda Rhoades Shanock, 2013). The socialization carried out to children or adolescents has the aim of making them able to understand what is the minimum age for marriage, what are the effects of marriage.
By knowing the consequences that arise from child marriage, which can lead to domestic violence, divorce, maternal and infant deaths, and the lack of optimality in educating children who are basically the successors of the nation, it is hoped that they will be able to limit and filter themselves so as not to approach things which will lead to child marriage. Socialization is also important for parents of children or adolescents. It is intended that later parents have the ability to educate and direct children. So they will no longer think of marrying off their children early as an effort to overcome family economic problems. In addition, by giving parents insight into the importance of education for their children they are able to limit and hinder their children when they ask permission to enter into child marriages or child marriages. However, it is parents who take part in deciding and granting permission for child marriage. If parents and children have good knowledge, there is less chance of child marriage or child marriage. Countries: A Critical Review ang Meta-Analysis who obtained the result that life skills education is effective, can be relied upon to improve youth life skills (Singla, 2020).

Life Skills
Life skills that can be applied at a young age are physical skills which include understanding your own body where children understand about a healthy life and how to avoid disease. In addition, they must be able to communicate with their own bodies such as if they are sleepy they have to sleep, if they are sick they have to take medicine. Regulating diet and exercise are also life skills that children must have.
In addition to physical skills, there are also mental skills where children accept their shortcomings and weaknesses. Mental skills can be realized such as selfconfidence and self-respect, always thinking positively, and being able to deal with stress.
Life skills are also associated with emotional skills, namely whether or not someone is able to manage their own emotions. Emotional life skills are like being honesty life skills also really need to be instilled since childhood because it will shape the child's character.
Difficulty coping skills are a branch of life skills that children must have. It is better if the child has the skills to deal with difficulties of the type of continuing to climb. Where when they get into trouble or fall down they will try to fix it and get back up.
Life skills are the solution to the rise of child marriage because, by mastering physical skills such as understanding body conditions, mental skills in accepting strengths and weaknesses, skills in managing and expressing emotions appropriately, spiritual skills, honesty, and skills in dealing with adversity, they will not will sometimes think or decide to do child marriage because they understand their own needs so they are able to filter or limit which good things to do and bad things to avoid.

Platform Digital
Today, in the era of society 5.0, technological advances are developing rapidly. As intelligent citizens or society, of course we should use it for positive things, including campaigning for marriage at the ideal age, aka suppressing child marriage. In Jepara there are many cases of child marriage, some of which are due to economic factors, pregnancy out of wedlock, and even coercion from parents.
Child marriages that have a background of this element of coercion make children even more afraid and have no place to complain. Especially if the parents are forcing the marriage, he will increasingly feel that he has lost someone to complain and tell stories about. Most of the teenagers tell their problems to friends.
However, friends his age are not yet able to think maturely and maturely. It is feared that they will tell the wrong story to someone that will be fatal. It is said to be fatal The Phenomenon of Child Marriage in Jepara and Its Prevention Strategies Indah Novani Wahyuningtyas, Vanessa Almayra Nugraha because with a child telling a story to someone and the other person providing a solution, it is likely that the child will follow suit.
No one can guarantee that a storyteller is sincere and precise in providing solutions. Therefore, a place is needed to accommodate their stories. If this is allowed then they will be mentally depressed. Currently, advances in digital technology can be utilized to add to and improve employment, health, and learning strategies for the community (Komalasari, 2020). For this reason, in an era of very rapid technological progress, it is necessary to have a place or platform to accommodate stories, complaints and provide solutions to the problems faced by children. The problem in question is not only about being forced into marriage, but also about being a place to report abuse and ask for protection. This platform must cooperate with DP3AP2KB Jepara Regency so that the solutions given to children or adolescents are quality solutions.
If the problem is that parents are forced to marry at a young age, then by working with DP3AP2KB they will come to provide explanations and understanding to both parents and children about the dangers of child marriage. By working with DP3AP2KB they are also able to provide mental reinforcement for children who are victims of forced marriages or abuse, because the team from the service also consists of professional psychologists.
There are many benefits to be gained by using a platform for media complaints about various problems faced by children such as problems of forced marriage or sexual harassment. The advantage of making complaints or reporting using the platform is that it can be done anywhere and anytime. In addition, the use of the platform can provide flexibility to its users (Sutherland W & Jarrahi, M.H., 2018). Psychologically, children are more courageous in telling stories and expressing their complaints through social media or platforms. Someone will be braver to express their emotions on social media (Dewi and Savira, 2017).

CONCLUSION
The findings  namely leading a healthy life, continuing their education, and finding a job. And there is a digital platform that can be a place to tell stories, complain, and make reports in order to suppress child marriage.
Parents and children should understand the impact of child marriage. However, it is necessary to collaborate with various parties such as the community, the Andak Gender and Study Center or PSGA, and the Office for Women's Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control and Family Planning or commonly known as DP3AP2KB Jepara Regency. Collaboration and assistance in question is to optimizeusually(Sodamn,Thatfe skills, and Platdigital form) which is expected to be able to reduce the number of child marriages.
Efforts to eradicate child marriage cases through Solit must be increased in order to obtain maximum results.