Nursing Care for Pre-marital Care

 - Early marriage is widespread in many developing countries, and many girls are married off as soon as they reach puberty.

Early Marriage

      Early marriage causes many health and social problems for the following reasons:-

·       Lack of physical and psychological readiness for family life.

·       Lack of information regarding reproduction and reproductive health.

·       Early pregnancy.

·       The husband's lack of attention to his wife's health.

·       Lack of communication between spouses.

Delaying marriage to a suitable age is important so that physical maturity is complete, especially for the girl, which makes pregnancy and childbirth go more safely and reduces the risks the woman is exposed to during them, and also reduces the negative effects on bone growth.

Also, the mental maturity of both parties to the marriage is very important to enable them to understand the meaning of marriage and the requirements of family life, and to make future decisions related to childbearing wisely and knowledgeably. In addition, raising children requires sound judgment and physical strength to help the couple fulfill their roles fully.

Early Pregnancy:

·       Pregnancy and miscarriage problems are among the leading causes of death among mothers under the age of 20.

·       Most women refuse to use family planning methods at the beginning of marriage and before having their first child, out of fear of infertility, which is a completely false belief.

Consequences and Problems Resulting from Early Pregnancy:

·       Decreased life expectancy for the girl.

·       Negative impact on general health, nutrition, and educational and employment opportunities.

·       Limits the woman's ability to support herself and her family in the future.

·       Negatively affects the upbringing and care of children.

Note: The optimal age for pregnancy and childbearing is between 20-35 years.

Health Problems of Early Pregnancy and Childbearing:

Young mothers are always at risk of:-

·       Preeclampsia and pregnancy-related hypertension: one of the most dangerous pregnancy problems, with many complications that can endanger the life of the mother and fetus.

·       Difficult labor due to incomplete development of the pelvic bones.

·       Iron-deficiency anemia: (increased need for this vital element among girls under the age of 20)

·       Miscarriage and unsafe abortion.

·       Increased likelihood of death during childbirth compared to mothers over the age of 20.

Note: Comprehensive medical care and prenatal follow-up reduce the occurrence of complications during pregnancy and allow early detection of any problems, especially for those under the age of 20.

Risks of Early Pregnancy to Newborns:

·       Increased rates of miscarriage, premature birth, and fetal death in the womb.

·       Delayed fetal growth in the womb and low birth weight: it was found that babies born to women under the age of 20 are 2-6 times more likely to have a low birth weight due to premature birth and delayed fetal growth in the womb.

·       The mother's young age reduces her ability to breastfeed due to lack of experience, which exposes the newborn to disrupted growth, weakened immunity, and greater susceptibility to disease and infection, which increases neonatal mortality rates and deaths during the first year.

Psychological and Social Effects of Early Pregnancy:

·       Psychological effects: depression, loss of self-confidence, and lack of ambition.

·       Negative effects on the husband: some young men experience psychological and social pressures due to early parenthood, especially if they are forced to take on additional work to increase income, which reduces their chances of completing their education and improving their living conditions.

·       Negative effects on the child itself: due to the parents' lack of experience in dealing with the newborn, which leads to an increase in neonatal mortality rates.