Indra Harsaputra, Surabaya – The early marriage rate has reportedly been increasing from year-to-year in some East Java regencies, raising concerns from local administrations that a baby boom could be triggered.
Malang Regent Rendra Krisna said that the early marriage rate had increased by up to 30 percent over the past two years, which has resulted in population growth.
"Teenagers under 20 years of age are not prepared to get married as they are not yet mentally and economically mature. They don't have the means to settle down, but there is a large chance that they'll produce more than two children," Rendra told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
"The early marriage increase also triggers population growth, currently at 0.8 percent annually. Despite a drop from 1.1 percent in 2009, the figure of 0.8 percent is still above the average population growth in East Java of 0.7 percent," said Rendra.
The population of Malang regency as of Dec. 31, 2012, was more than 3 million. Based on data from the Malang Family Planning Board (BKB), the number of early marriages among teenagers below the age of 20 in 2011 and 2012 was 7,716 and 8,515 respectively.
The 2012 Indonesian Health and Demography Survey showed a rise in the number of births by young mothers between the ages of 15 and 19, be they through wedlock or out of wedlock. A study conducted by the University of Indonesia Health Research Center in 2010 also showed similar findings.
In Indonesia, according to Law No. 1/1974 on marriage, females over the age of 16 are allowed to marry. However, the 2002 Child Protection Law stipulates that anyone below 18 is a minor.
The Malang, Kediri and Madura regency administrations are also making efforts to suppress the rate of early marriages.
Data at the Kediri Religious Affairs Office showed a rise in marriage applications involving teenagers. The number of early marriages in 2011 and 2012 stood at 109 and 167 respectively.
Kediri Religious Court deputy clerk Mohammad Kamali said the early marriage applications had been consented by both the families of the bride and the groom.
The youngest prospective bride was listed as 14-years-old and still attending junior high school, while the youngest age for a groom was 16-years-old and still attending high school.
"Based on the Marriage Law, getting married at such ages is considered too young. However, the Religious Court could not forbid them if they have met the requirements and their parents have given their consent," said Kamali.
Kamali added the increase in marriage applications among teenagers was also comparable to the high divorce rate.
In 2011, it was recorded that 3,717 couples had filed for divorce, while in 2012, 315 divorce cases were reported in January and 334 cases in February. "The main factors for the divorces were mainly due to extramarital and financial issues," said Kamali.
Malang BKB head Sukowiyono said in an effort to curb population growth due to early marriages, his office was working together with community figures and the local chapter Interfaith Communication Forum (KKUB) to urge parents to postpone their children's marriages.
"Obviously, we cannot forbid 16-year-old women from getting married because the Marriage Law consents marriage at that age. We call on parents to postpone early marriages as they could trigger poverty," said Sukowiyono.