Abstract:
Background: Early marriage has been a deep rooted traditional and global problem with multifaceted consequences. It has been most severe in less developing nations like Ethiopia with regional variation where Amhara Region accounted the highest prevalence. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess the prevalence and associated factors with early marriage in Dera woreda, North West Ethiopia. Methods: Community based cross sectional study was employed from November 5to December 20 2015. A total of 846 households were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. The data were collected using pre-tested and structured questionnaire. Data were entered to Epi-lnfo version 7 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was carried out. The strength of association were estimated using OR with 95% Cl. Result: A total of 842 participants responded for the interviews making the response rate 99%.Majority 688(81.7%) of the respondents were fathers, 138 (16.4%) of mothers and others 16(1.9%). About 539 (64.0%) respondents wedded their daughters before 18 years of age. Eighteen percent of girls married before their 15 years old. The mean marital age was (16.67 ±2.392).The highest prevalence of early marriage was reported among those of other than father headed, having illiterate educational level, lower awareness of minimum legal marital age, low awareness of disadvantage and negative consequence of early marriage and house hold families having >5 members of respondents. Child marriage was also more common among wedded daughters have less than secondary education.