The persistent high rates of early marriage below the age of 18 is a global concern. In the Gambia, although early marriage declined significantly (from 58% to 30%) over the last two decades, this rate is still high. The aim of this study was to determine the factors that are perpetuating early marriage; then to use the information generated to design a relevant package of interventions that will be tested in two districts (Lower and Central Baddibu Districts) in the North Bank Region of the Gambia. 

Join us for Dr. Mat Lowe's presentation via Zoom on October 29.

Dr. Mat Lowe was former Adjunct Lecturer of Population and Development at the University of The Gambia (UTG), and now Director of Research and Programs at the Society for the Study of Women’s Health (SSWH) in the Gambia. His work spans a wide range of social and cultural factors affecting maternal and child health in the Gambia; health systems research and human resource for health workforce in the West Africa region. He is an associate editor and reviewer for BMC Global Health Research and Policy. He also reviews for the African Journal of Reproductive Health (AJRH) and BMC Health Services. Dr. Mat Lowe has held various research positions including as Social Scientist-Researcher for an EU funded project on prevention and management of female genital mutilation in the Gambia, which was implemented by Wassu Kafo Gambia (an international scientific NGO based in the Gambia). Currently, he is leading a five-year implementation research project addressing teen pregnancy and early marriage in the Gambia, which is being funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and implemented by the Society for the Study of Women’s Health (SSWH) and Agency for the Development of Women and Children (ADWAC). Dr. Mat Lowe holds a Ph.D. in Global Health from the Institute of Health Policy and Management of National Taiwan University (NTU).