Communication Infrastructure in Family Decision Making on Child Marriage Practices

ABSTRACT : Child marriage is one of the social problems that still occur in many parts of the world includingIndonesia. This study aims to analyze the receipt of information related to child marriage from thecommunication infrastructure owned by parents at the level of micro, meso, and macro communication. Theresearch method uses the paradigm of constructivism with a case study design. The location of the research wasconducted in Makassar city in urban, rural, and coastal areas. An analysis unit is a family divided into twodifferent typologies. Data collection techniques are conducted by observation, in-depth interviews, anddocumentation. The results of this study show that information related to child marriage obtained by parents onall typologies of micro-level communication infrastructure is diverse enough that it plays a big role ininfluencing their decision to marry or not marry their child. Meanwhile, meso-level communicationinfrastructure does not provide information related to child marriage in all family typologies. Furthermore, inmacro-level communication infrastructure, the government is less than maximal in providing information relatedto child marriage to families. Most parents get information related to child marriage on macro-levelcommunication infrastructure through mainstream media as well as digital media.

Keywords :Child marriage, communication infrastructure, decision-making, family