The Role of the Office of Religious Affairs and Community Leaders in Preventing Early Marriage in East Palu District

Abstract

Early marriage is a marriage performed by one or both bride and groom who have not yet reached the age specified by Law Number 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage. East Palu District, Palu City is one of the areas where people still practice early marriage, even from 2020-2022 cases of early marriage in the sub-district have increased. Based on this reality, the formulation of the problem is: what are the factors that have caused the increase in early marriages in East Palu District? What is the role of the Office of Religious Affairs and community leaders in preventing early marriage in East Palu District? And what are the obstacles experienced by the Office of Religious Affairs and community leaders in preventing early marriage in East Palu District? This research is a field research that uses a qualitative approach. Data collection techniques in this study through observation, interviews, and documentation. The data analysis techniques used are data reduction, data presentation, and data verification. The results of the study show that the factors causing early marriage in East Palu District are: Lack of parents' role in educating children, promiscuity, the urgent economic situation of parents, parents' awareness that is still lacking regarding the age limit for marriage. The efforts of the KUA and community leaders to prevent early marriage include: holding counseling and outreach, tightening administration, fostering sakinah families, and appealing to community leaders and parents to take part in preventing early marriage. The obstacles experienced by KUA and community leaders in preventing early marriage are the lack of people who pay attention when counseling and outreach are carried out, parents who are in a hurry to marry off their children.