Child marriage: A union that robs a girl of smile

Even when 13-year-old Jasmin got married in 2006, she had a normal life like any other cheerful teenage girl. However, her life started to change after the birth of her first child within a year of marriage and by the birth of her third child 13 years later, she found herself into the labyrinth of mental illness. Now, her family is struggling with her mental disorders and depression.She frequently hits her youngest child, who is only five years old.

Jasmin’s family members said the decision to marry her off at an early age was a big mistake.

Doctors said early marriage and its associated issues have significantly contributed to Jasmin’s current condition.

For the past three years, Jasmin has been receiving treatment from Dr Mohammad Ali, an assistant professor at Pabna Medical College and a consultant at Pabna Mental Hospital.Dr Ali told the Daily Sun, “Girls suffer both physically and mentally due to child marriage and early pregnancy. That’s probably what led to Jasmin’s mental problems.”

While child marriage has cost Jasmin dearly, her childhood playmate Bithi has been a bit more fortunate. Although she did not develop mental health issues, Bithi also suffered from serious health problems after being married at the age of 13.

Despite progress in reducing child marriage and early pregnancy in recent years, many women and children like Jasmin and Bithi remain victims.

According to Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey — MICS2019, there are 4.15 crore child brides in Bangladesh, and one in every two adolescent girls was married before turning 18.Several other surveys indicate that half of all marriages in Bangladesh are child marriages.

Child marriage, child pregnancy on the rise for three years

According to the MICS report, the child marriage rate in Bangladesh has decreased by 16% since 2011, an average of 2.1% per year. However, UNICEF states that the rate of reducing child marriage must be 17 times faster to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Contrary to these goals, recent government statistics indicate a continuous increase in child marriage and child pregnancy over the last three years.
According to the Bangladesh law, any marriage before the age of 18 is considered child marriage.The key findings of Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics (SVRS) 2023, published on 24 March last, revealed alarming figures. The rate of child marriage in 2021 was 32.4%, but it increased to 41.6% in 2023. Additionally, 44.4% of child marriages occurred in rural areas in 2023, compared to 33.5% in urban areas.

Besides, while the pregnancy rate among teenage girls (aged 15-19) slightly declined in 2023, the rate among children aged 10 to 14 increased. In 2023, the pregnancy rate for adolescent girls aged 15-19 was 25.18%, compared to 25.68% in 2022. Conversely, the pregnancy rate for children aged 10-14 years was 0.74% in 2023, up from 0.68% in 2022.

Md Alamgir Hossain, project director of SVRS and deputy director of BBS, informed the Daily Sun that child marriage is most prevalent in Chapainawabganj and Bogura in North Bengal as well as Satkhira, Jashore and Magura in Khulna division and Gopalganj in Dhaka division.

Health impacts of child marriage and pregnancy
According to doctors, child marriages and pregnancies not only have physical ramifications for girls but also profoundly affect their mental well-being.

They explain that child pregnancy can lead to various complications during childbirth, including unnatural pregnancies and other health issues.Dr Dina Laila Hussain, an assistant professor at Dhaka Medical College’s Gynecology and Obstetrics Department, told the Daily Sun, “Pregnancy at a young age significantly increases the risk of mortality for both mother and child. Additionally, maintaining good health for both becomes exceedingly challenging.”

Addressing the concerning trend of child marriage and pregnancy among girls aged 10 to 14, Dr Hussain said, “Young girls are neither physically nor mentally prepared for childbirth. Consequently, they face heightened risks of high blood pressure, anaemia, pre-term delivery and an increased likelihood of caesarean section.”

She stressed the importance of delaying childbirth until at least the age of 21 as it significantly enhances the health outcomes for both mother and child. Early pregnancy, she noted, often leads to strained mother-child relations.

Additionally, early pregnancy has detrimental effects on mental health.

Dr Ali from Pabna Mental Hospital, referring to cases like Jasmin’s, explained, “The sudden transition to adult responsibilities, coupled with child abuse and forced sexual relations, can lead to depression and anxiety. Over time, these individuals may develop severe mental illnesses.”

Why is child marriage increasing?

Jasmin’s family admits that the decision to marry her off at just 13 was wrong.

Her mother Rita said, “I married my little girl off due to financial strain. But it was a wrong decision. She couldn’t handle the pressure of a husband’s family and three children. Now her life is a mess.”

According to UNICEF, gender inequality and social norms play a significant role in the rise of child marriage and pregnancy. Additionally, poverty, lack of educational opportunities, low income, limited access to resources for girls and women, lack of their own income, financial planning skills and discriminatory laws based on gender and age contribute to the increase in the child marriage.

UNICEF reports that while child marriage has significantly decreased among affluent and educated girls, it remains high among underprivileged, uneducated and rural girls.

Statistics indicate that the poverty rate in the country has risen in recent years due to various national and international factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experts suggest noted that in recent years, the increase in child marriage is driven by both existing social reasons and the economic crisis.

SVRS project director Alamgir Hossain stated, “Social factors are more responsible than economic factors for child marriage.”

Sheldon Yate, UNICEF representative, told the Daily Sun, “Child marriage and child pregnancy have a profound negative impact on society and the development of Bangladesh. Child marriage hinders girls’ educational and economic opportunities, making them unable to contribute significantly to the labor market. Their role as active citizens is shrinking.”