Child Marriage and Intimate Partner Violence in Rural Bangladesh: A Longitudinal Multilevel Analysis

Abstract

Child marriage (before age 18) is a risk factor for intimate partner violence (IPV) against women. Worldwide, Bangladesh has the highest prevalence of IPV and very early child marriage (before age 15). How the community prevalence of very early child marriage influences a woman’s risk of IPV is unknown. Using panel data (2013–2014) from 3,355 women first married 4–12 years prior in 77 Bangladeshi villages, we tested the protective effect of a woman’s later first marriage (at age 18 or older), the adverse effect of a higher village prevalence of very early child marriage, and whether any protective effect of a woman’s later first marriage was diminished or reversed in villages where very early child marriage was more prevalent. Almost one-half (44.5 %) of women reported incident physical IPV, and 68.9 % had married before age 18. The village-level incidence of physical IPV ranged from 11.4 % to 75.0 %; the mean age at first marriage ranged from 14.8 to 18.0 years. The mean village-level prevalence of very early child marriage ranged from 3.9 % to 51.9 %. In main-effects models, marrying at 18 or later protected against physical IPV, and more prevalent very early child marriage before age 15 was a risk factor. The interaction of individual later marriage and the village prevalence of very early child marriage was positive; thus, the likely protective effect of marrying later was negated in villages where very early child marriage was prevalent. Collectively reducing very early child marriage may be needed to protect women from IPV.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Outcomes of Violence Against Women and Girls in Lower-Income Countries: A Review of Reviews

“…The shortage of adolescent-only studies may be related to this oversight of childhood exposures. The limited research on child marriage was particularly concerning because girls married in childhood also are more likely than those married later to experience physical and/or sexual IPV (Santhya et al, 2010;Yount, Crandall, et al, 2016). Moreover, we found no adolescent-only studies of emotional or physical IPV.…”

Child brides or child labor in a worst form?

“…They also note early childbearing and health consequences, such as increased risks of obstetric fistulas, maternal mortality, and cervical cancer that occur for girls (Mathur et al, ; Nour, ). Girl brides face higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, and domestic violence as well (Bokhari, ; Yount et al, ; Zaman, ).…”

Barriers to access maternal health services among urban poor women in Bangladesh: A Case of Rajshahi City

“…Physical and financial barriers are less acute than socio -cultural barrier Girls' marriage at early age is prevalent in Bangladesh. [34][35][36][37] This causes pregnancy at an earlier life of their reproductive span. Women getting pregnant at early age may face many complications compared with women being pregnant at matured age.…”