Child marriage and its association with morbidity and mortality of under-5 years old children in Bangladesh
Summary & Objectives
This study examines whether child marriage is associated with morbidity and mortality among children under five in Bangladesh. Using nationally representative BDHS data from 1993-2018, with detailed analysis of the 2017-18 survey, the authors aim to document long-term trends in child mortality and assess how maternal age at marriage relates to childhood illness and survival outcomes. The study is motivated by persistently high rates of child marriage in Bangladesh and concerns that early marriage and adolescent motherhood may undermine progress toward child and maternal health–related Sustainable Development Goals.
Findings
Child mortality rates in Bangladesh have declined substantially since the early 1990s, but levels remain high, particularly for neonatal and under-five mortality. Children born to women who married before age 18 experience higher risks of under-five, infant, and neonatal mortality compared with those born to women married as adults. Early maternal marriage is also associated with higher prevalence of common childhood morbidities such as fever, diarrhea, and cough, even after adjusting for socioeconomic and demographic factors. The burden of child marriage is concentrated among poorer, rural, and less-educated households, reinforcing health inequalities across regions and population groups.
Recommendations
The study calls for stronger enforcement of laws and policies to raise and uphold the minimum age of marriage, alongside efforts to reduce socioeconomic disparities that sustain early marriage. Expanding girls’ education and empowerment is emphasized as a critical strategy to delay marriage and childbirth. Targeted health and social interventions are also recommended for children born to young mothers to reduce preventable morbidity and mortality and accelerate progress toward national and global child health goals.
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