Child marriage in Iran: a protocol for a scoping review and meta-synthesis of qualitative evidence

Child marriage remains a pressing social and public health issue globally, with significant implications for the rights, well-being and development of affected individuals. In Iran, legal frameworks that permit marriage from as young as 9 lunar years for girls-despite countervailing influences such as rising education levels and social reforms-have failed to curb the persistence of early marriage, which continues to be driven by entrenched cultural, socioeconomic and legal factors. Understanding the multifaceted nature of child marriage within this context is crucial for developing effective interventions and policies. Existing research predominantly focuses on quantitative assessments, leaving qualitative insights underexplored. The aim of this protocol is to address the existing gap by undertaking a scoping review and meta-synthesis of qualitative evidence concerning child marriage in Iran. This study seeks to provide an in-depth understanding of the underlying determinants, lived experiences and associated consequences of child marriage with the aim of informing future research endeavours and guiding policy development.

This scoping review protocol will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines and the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley, incorporating recent methodological advancements. Selection criteria will be established through the Population, Concept and Context framework, targeting qualitative studies addressing child marriage within Iran. To ensure comprehensive coverage, an inclusive search will be conducted across diverse databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Scientific Information Database (SID), MagIran and the Barakat Knowledge Network System (BKNS), without any restriction on publication date, extending up to the search date. Both Persian and English language sources will be reviewed. Two independent reviewers will undertake the screening of titles, abstracts and full texts, resolving conflicting decisions through consensus or third-party arbitration. The methodological integrity of eligible studies will be assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for qualitative research. Data will be synthesised through content analysis methods. Confidence in the integrated findings will be evaluated employing the GRADE-CERQual approach to enhance the trustworthiness and applicability of the review outcomes.

The Research Ethics Committee of Tabriz University of edical Sciences approved this proposed scoping review and meta-synthesis, confrming ethical compliance absent patient involvement. Results from this investigation will be shared through peer-reviewed journal articles and presentations at relevant academic conferences locally and internationally. Furthermore, the synthesised insights into the phenomenon of child marriage in Iran are intended to inform scholars, policymakers and practitioners, supporting evidence-based strategies and policies to mitigate the issue and promote social change.