Peer-reviewed article
Child Marriage in Rural Bangladesh: A Study of Trends and Influencing Factors
Hashibul Hassan ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines child marriage in rural Bangladesh using survey data and qualitative interviews. It identifies rising prevalence and multiple risk factors including poverty, gender norms, and low paternal education, alongside protective factors like delayed puberty and male siblings. The research finds that conditional economic incentives are more effective than empowerment programs in delaying marriage, and reveals that legal protections are vulnerable to misuse.
Key points
- Child marriage shows a rising trend in rural Bangladesh, strongly correlated with early childbirth, food insecurity, and low paternal education
- Key risk factors include poverty, traditional gender norms, and religious affiliation; protective factors include delayed menarche and presence of male siblings
- Social stigma, reputational anxiety, and digital exploitation shape marriage decisions
- Conditional economic incentives are more effective than adolescent empowerment programs in delaying marriage
- The 'special provision' clause in the Child Marriage Restraint Act (2017) is vulnerable to misuse, weakening enforcement
Limitations
The document does not specify the timeframe of data collection, sample size, or detailed methodology, making it difficult to assess the robustness of findings. It is unclear whether the intervention comparison (economic incentives vs. empowerment programs) was conducted as a formal evaluation or derived from secondary analysis.
Abstract
Child marriage remains a deeply entrenched challenge in Bangladesh, disproportionately affecting rural girls and undermining their health, education, and economic potential. This study investigates the prevalence, drivers, and lived realities of child marriage in rural contexts, drawing on nationally representative survey data and qualitative interviews. Quantitative findings reveal a rising trend in child marriage and a strong correlation with early childbirth, food insecurity, and low paternal education. Regression analysis highlights key risk factors, including poverty, traditional gender norms, and religious affiliation, while protective factors include delayed menarche and the presence of male siblings. Qualitative insights underscore the role of social stigma, reputational anxiety, and digital exploitation in shaping marriage decisions. The study also evaluates the effectiveness of intervention strategies, finding that conditional economic incentives outperform adolescent empowerment programs in delaying marriage. Legal frameworks, particularly the ‘special provision’ clause in the Child Marriage Restraint Act (2017), are shown to be vulnerable to misuse, weakening enforcement. By integrating statistical analysis with community narratives, this research offers a nuanced understanding of child marriage in rural Bangladesh and identifies pathways for targeted, context-sensitive interventions. The findings emphasize the need for structural reforms, localized engagement, and sustained investment in education and economic resilience to disrupt the cycle of early marriage.