Empowerment and Strengthening the Role of Women in Efforts to Reduce the Incidence of Early Marriage and Detection of its Health Impacts on the Community

Gedang Kulud Village, Cerme Sub-district,
Gresik Regency is an agricultural area with a fairly
religious community culture and has serious problems
with the high number of early marriages, as well as
environmental sanitation problems, but has the potential
to develop SME industries that can support theprogress
of the village. Gedang Kulud village cadres are
extraordinary people who have high dedication and
commitment to the progress of their village. This is an
opportunity for solutionsto problems in Gedang Kulud
village, to be able to solve problems independently, in
synergy with local capabilities and potential. Training
health cadres to become development innovators
provides an opportunity for Gedang Kulud village to
progress and develop sustainably. Health cadres are
cadres chosen by the community to be Posyandu
organisers. Innovator cadres are health cadres who drive
community participation in the health sector, especially
in efforts to mature the age of marriage. Innovator
cadres are trained and equipped with various skills so
that they can become community participation leaders
who are able to become role models for the community,
disseminate knowledge, provide assistance, and monitor
the progress of the community members they assist. In
2015, 83.3% of all marriages in Gedang Kulut village
involved women under the age of 20 and 44.4% involved
women under the age of 20. Some of the reasons for the
high rate of early marriage are the low socioeconomic
status of the community, the myth of the "virgin kasep"
if married above the age of 20, and the fear of violating
ethical and religious norms if a girl is not married off
immediately. Women who marry at a young age have
longer exposure to pregnancy risks. The lower the age at
which a woman becomes pregnant, the greater the health
risks; the risk of death from pregnancy is twice as high
in adolescent girls aged 15-19 years compared to women
aged 20-24 years. A woman who gives birth before the
age of 15 years has a 5 times higher risk of dying during
childbirth compared to women aged 20 years and older
(Intan, 2012). Maternal deaths in pregnant and giving
birth women under the age of 20 years are 2 - 5 times
higher than maternal deaths thatoccur at the age of 20 -
29 years. (Romauli, 2009). Complications from pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death
for women aged 15 to 19 years in developing countries.
Increasing community empowerment and strengthening
the role of women, in order to reduce the incidence of
early marriage and its health impacts from the point of
view of health, economy and religion, in Gedang Kulud
village, Cerme sub-district, GresikRegency, is the aim of
the implementation of this community service.