en |
Decline in Child Marriage and Changes in Its Effect on Reproductive Outcomes in Bangladesh
Kamal,S.M. Mostafa
Abstract
This paper explores the decline in child marriage and changes in its effect on reproductive outcomes of
Bangladeshi women, using the 2007 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey data. Chi-square tests,
negative binomial Poisson regression and binary logistic regression were performed in analyzing the data.
Overall, 82% of women aged 20-49 years were married-off before 18 years of age, and 63% of the marriages
took place before 16 years of age. The incidence of child marriage was significantly less among the
young women aged 20-24 years compared to their older counterparts. Among others, women's education
appeared as the most significant single determinant of child marriage as well as decline in child marriage.
Findings revealed that, after being adjusted for sociodemographic factors, child marriage compared to adult
marriage appeared to be significantly associated with lower age at first birth (OR=0.81, 95% CI=76-0.86),
higher fertility (IRR=1.45, 95% WCI=1.35-1.55), increased risk of child mortality (IRR=1.64, 95% WCI=1.44-
1.87), decreased risk of contraceptive-use before any childbirths (OR=0.56, 95% CI=0.50-0.63), higher risk
of giving three or more childbirth (OR=3.94, 95% CI=3.38-4.58), elevated risk of unplanned pregnancies
(OR=1.21, 95% CI=1.02-1.45), increased risk of pregnancy termination (OR=1.16, 95% CI=1.00-1.34), and
higher risk of the use of any current contraceptive method (OR=1.20, 95% CI=1.06-1.35). Increased enforcement
of existing policies is crucial for the prevention of child marriage. Special programmes should be
undertaken to keep girls in school for longer period to raise the age of females at first marriage in Bangladesh
and thereby reduce the adverse reproductive outcomes.
Keywords
Age at first birth; Child marriage; Child mortality; Induced abortion; Reproductive outcomes; Unintended pregnancy; Bangladesh
|