Virus Outbreak Child Brides

Mariama poses for a picture in Koidu, district of Kono, Sierra Leone, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. Mariama, who estimates her age at 17, had left her remote village near the border with Guinea to live with an aunt in Koidu and attend school. Then in April a 28-year-old man in their compound expressed interest in her. It took a month for Mariama to say yes over her aunt's threats to send her back to her village, where her father is struggling to feed two wives and 10 other children and her mother would be embarrassed by her return. If she has a daughter, one thing is certain, she says: “I will not give my child to anybody. I will take care of her.” (AP Photo/Leo Correa) XLC515