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The timing of marriage and childbearing among rural families in Bangladesh: Choosing between competing risks

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  • Schuler, Sidney Ruth
  • Bates, Lisa M.
  • Islam, Farzana
  • Islam, Md. Khairul

Abstract

Early marriage and childbearing among girls is often associated with a wide range of negative social and health consequences for young mothers and their infants, and contributes to rapid population growth. This paper presents findings from qualitative research in three villages of rural Bangladesh, where a range of interventions have been promoted to encourage later marriage and childbearing. Data from in-depth interviews and group discussions are used to describe socio-cultural supports for early marriage and childbearing, to examine evidence that change towards later marriage and childbearing is beginning, and to analyze the social dynamics behind these change processes. The findings suggest that norms supporting early marriage and childbearing are beginning to erode, and that changing gender ideals and aspirations for women are a key factor in this erosion. Interviews among the poorest families, however, show that this group tends to experience this changing social environment in terms of heightened risks. Marital strategies among the poorest are, above all, strategies for economic survival, and poor families tend to see the costs of education and delayed marriage for daughters as high and the outcomes as uncertain. At the same time, they have also become aware that early marriage and childbearing entails costs and risks. The authors conclude that further targeting of interventions to the poorest families may help to influence the economic strategies that so often result in early marriage.

Suggested Citation

  • Schuler, Sidney Ruth & Bates, Lisa M. & Islam, Farzana & Islam, Md. Khairul, 2006. "The timing of marriage and childbearing among rural families in Bangladesh: Choosing between competing risks," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(11), pages 2826-2837, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:62:y:2006:i:11:p:2826-2837
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John C. Caldwell & Barkat‐e‐Khuda & Bruce Caldwell & Indrani Pieris & Pat Caldwell, 1999. "The Bangladesh Fertility Decline: An Interpretation," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 25(1), pages 67-84, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Asadullah, Niaz & Wahhaj, Zaki, 2012. "Going to School in Purdah: Female Schooling, Mobility Norms and Madrasas in Bangladesh," IZA Discussion Papers 7059, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Yeasmin Sayeed, 2016. "Effect of girls' secondary school stipend on completed schooling, age at marriage, and age at first birth: Evidence from Bangladesh," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2016-110, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Wahhaj, Zaki, 2018. "An economic model of early marriage," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 147-176.
    4. Kathryn M. Yount & AliceAnn Crandall & Yuk Fai Cheong & Theresa L. Osypuk & Lisa M. Bates & Ruchira T. Naved & Sidney Ruth Schuler, 2016. "Child Marriage and Intimate Partner Violence in Rural Bangladesh: A Longitudinal Multilevel Analysis," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 53(6), pages 1821-1852, December.
    5. Yeasmin Sayeed, 2016. "Effect of girls' secondary school stipend on completed schooling, age at marriage, and age at first birth," WIDER Working Paper Series 110, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. Md Mobarak Hossain Khan & Arina Zanuzdana & Alexander Kraemer, 2013. "Levels, Trends and Disparities in Public-Health-Related Indicators among Reproductive-Age Women in Bangladesh by Urban-Rural and Richest-Poorest Groups, 1993-2011," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(9), pages 1-1, September.
    7. Zaki Wahhaj, 2015. "A Theory of Child Marriage," Studies in Economics 1520, School of Economics, University of Kent.
    8. Dirgha Ghimire & William Axinn, 2013. "Marital Processes, Arranged Marriage, and Contraception to Limit Fertility," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 50(5), pages 1663-1686, October.
    9. Biswas, Raaj Kishore & Khan, Jahidur Rahman & Kabir, Enamul, 2019. "Trend of child marriage in Bangladesh: A reflection on significant socioeconomic factors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-1.

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