Palermo, Tia http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0419-2049
Chzhen, Yekaterina
Balvin, Nikola
Kajula, Lusajo
Palermo, Tia
Groppo, Valeria
de Hoop, Jacobus
Kajula, Lusajo
Prencipe, Leah
Waidler, Jennifer
Choumert Nkolo, Johanna
Mitti, Respichius
Sivewright, Nathan
Leuveld, Koen
Munanka, Bhoke
Luchemba, Paul
Mnyawami Lukongo, Tumpe
Mulokozi, Aroldia
Gilbert, Ulrike
Quarles van Ufford, Paul
Le Kirkegaard, Rikke
Eetaama, Frank
,
Funding for this research was provided by:
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (G41102)
Department for International Development (DFID 203529-102)
Oak Foundation (OCAY-16-732)
UNICEF (N/a)
Article History
Received: 8 August 2019
Accepted: 26 August 2020
First Online: 10 September 2020
Ethics approval and consent to participate
: The study obtained Ethical Clearance from the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) in Tanzania. Informed assent and parental consent was obtained for all unmarried adolescents ages 14–17 years, and written informed consent was obtained directly for those aged 18 and 19 years and emancipated (married) adolescents aged 14–17 years. This consent procedure for married adolescents under the age of 18 years falls under the Marriage Act of 1972, which allows girls to be married at age 15 and males at age 18. In Tanzania, legal interpretation of this law confirms that, for matters within ones’ capability (in this case the household or person), then the married minor is a legal respondent. Subsequently, in 2016, a Tanzanian high court ruled provisions allowing marriage under the age of 18 years unconstitutional, and this ruling was then challenged. Finally, in October 2019, the high court upheld the 2016 ruling, which has not yet been operationalized and enforced in the country. Thus, current legal interpretation confirms that married adolescents are considered to have the legal capacity to give consent to participate in research. In our sample, there were no married males under the age of 18 and no married females under the age of 15.
: Not applicable.
: The authors have no competing financial and non-financial interests to declare.