ABSTRACT:
Abstract Child marriage remains a persistent challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa, where nearly one in three girls is married before the age of eighteen. Early marriage exposes girls to premature motherhood, limited education, and lifelong social and health disadvantages. Emerging evidence links low maternal age to hidden disabilities, physical, developmental, and psychosocial conditions affecting both mothers and their children. Yet, this intersection of reproductive health, disability, and gender inequity remains largely overlooked in public health policy and practice. This study examines how early marriage and adolescent motherhood contribute to hidden disabilities and how inclusive health and education systems can mitigate these effects. A qualitative meta-analysis and desk review of WHO, UNICEF, and national health survey data from Nigeria, Niger, Ethiopia, and Somalia were conducted. Guided by the Social Determinants of Health and the Social Model of Disability, the analysis explored environmental, cultural, and systemic factors sustaining intergenerational vulnerability. Findings indicate that adolescent mothers are two to three times more likely to experience obstetric complications such as fistula, anaemia, and premature births, while their children face increased risks of low birth weight, sensory and neurodevelopmental disabilities. Limited screening, stigma, and fragmented maternal health services contribute to underreporting and delayed intervention. The absence of inclusive education and disability-sensitive care reinforces a cycle of marginalization. Child marriage therefore perpetuates a continuum of disability and exclusion. Addressing this crisis requires disability-inclusive reproductive health services, early screening, and multisectoral collaboration across health, education, and gender ministries. Integrating these priorities into national development plans is vital to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, and 5 and ensuring equity for mothers and children across Sub-Saharan Africa. Keywords: Child marriage, maternal age, hidden disabilities, public health, Sub-Saharan Africa