1.

Introduction:
A fundamental violation of human rights, child marriage is defined as a formal or informal union
before the age of 18, endangering the lives, wellbeing, and futures of girls worldwide. Although
child marriage happens to both boys and girls, it is roughly five times more common among
girls, which is a reflection of cultural norms that devalue girls and deny them the freedom to
choose their own paths in life.
Child marriage is becoming more widely acknowledged as a significant obstacle to gender
inequality and global public health. The prevalence of child marriage worldwide and the
contributing causes are still not fully understood. Therefore, the goal of the current systematic
review was to investigate the prevalence of child marriage and its contributing factors.

1.1 Status of Child Marriage:

In Bangladesh: There are more than 41 million child bride in Bangladesh : One in two young
ladies were married when they were young. 22.3 million girls were married before the age of 15
and 41.6 million before the age of 18(UNICEF, 2021) .

Fig:Child marriage statistic in Bangladesh

Although child marriage has become more prevalent in Bangladesh over the last 30 years, it is
still widespread in both rural and urban slums, especially among the poor. The worst rates of
child marriage in Bangladesh are found in Sylhet, Chapainawabganj, Rangpur, Jessore, Bhola,
and portions of Khulna district. According to a research by the ICDDR, Gazi et al. (2013), 64%
of Bangladeshi women between the ages of 20 and 24 were married off before they reached the
legal marriage age.73% of rural girls were married before turning 18, indicating that early
marriage is very common among them. However, according to Plan International (2015), 27% of
rural girls married between the ages of 12 and 14. According to a different study conducted in
the rural parts of Noakhali District, over 80% of people marry young, and at least 20% of them
have children before turning 18 (Kabir et al., 2019). There is a propensity in Bangladesh to avoid
the detrimental effects of getting married young. And when it comes to marriage, village girls are
hardly ever consulted(Kabir et al., 2019).
 Source:UNICEF

In South Asia : In South Asia, about one in four young women was married or entered into a
marriage before turning 18. Child brides are more likely to reside in rural areas, come from low-
income families, and have less education. In the area, three out of four child brides give birth
while still in their teens.The great majority of child brides are not enrolled in school.
When it comes to eliminating child marriage, South Asia is at the forefront of global
development(UNICEF, 2023).
World perspective: 650 million women and girls were married before the age of 18
worldwide (Child Marriage - UNICEF DATA, 2024). In 2018, it was discovered that Ethiopia
had the highest rate of child marriage. Nigeria had the lowest rate of child marriage in 2016.In
India, the trend of child marriage has drastically decreased (AARR -0.61 to -3.63).In Iran, the
trend has risen among the 15–19 age group but slowed among the 10–14 age group. In China's
western provinces (Yunnan, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Ningxia, Tibet, and Guizhou), child marriage is
more common. Almost half of child brides worldwide are from South Asia.Although there is
cause for celebration regarding the worldwide decline in child marriage, no region is on pace to
achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of eradicating this detrimental practice by 2030.

2.Reason:

In Bangladesh, child marriage is a complicated problem with many underlying causes. Here are a
few of the main causes:

Poverty: Because they feel they can no longer afford to feed or educate their daughters,
families in poverty may view early marriage as a means of easing financial strains.
Lack of Education: Negative social norms and customs that encourage child marriage are
sustained in part by low educational attainment, especially among girls.
Cultural and Social Norms: Families may marry off their daughters at a young age due to
ingrained cultural and social norms, such as the value placed on maintaining a girl's "honor" and
the notion that marriage is a necessity.
Early Childbearing and Pregnancy: Early marriage frequently results in early pregnancy and
childbirth, which can have detrimental health effects.

Gender Inequality: Decisions that put sons' welfare ahead of daughters' can result from
gender inequality, which views females as a burden and boys as an asset.
Lack of Knowledge: It's possible that many families are unaware about the legal marriage
age and the detrimental effects of child marriage.
Economic Factors: In certain situations, particularly when their girls come from a lower
socioeconomic background, families may view marriage as a means of ensuring their financial
future.

3.Impact:

Child marriage is a breach of children's rights since it frequently occurs against the will and best
interests of the children involved and has serious effects on their survival, health, education,
development, and general well-being.It can have especially catastrophic effects on girl’s life.
These effects may be mental, emotional, psychological, or physical.
In Bangladesh, child marriage has a significant effect on girls and society. Here are some
important points:

Health
Early Pregnancy: Young married girls are more likely to become pregnant unintentionally and
early, which increases the risk of maternal and infant death.

Health Issues: Because of their immature bodies, young brides frequently experience serious
health issues after childbirth.

Education
School Dropout: After marriage, a lot of ladies discontinue their education, which restricts their
options for further study and employment.

Lack of Education: Higher rates of child marriage are closely linked to a lack of education.

Impact on Social and Psychological Levels

Isolation: Girls' mental health and general well-being may suffer as a result of being separated
from their friends and family due to child marriage.

Domestic Violence: Young married girls are particularly susceptible to maltreatment and
domestic violence.

Economic Impact of the Poverty Cycle: By preventing girls from entering the workforce
and making financial contributions, child marriage prolongs cycles of poverty
4.Solution

1.Empowering teenage girls and changing gender stereotypes and attitudes.

2.Involving men and boys in families and communities to encourage constructive social norms,
values, and conduct.

3.Improving social protection programs, laws, and policies to safeguard both boys' and girls'
rights.

4.Enforcing rules that establish a minimum age for marriage is one way to strengthen legal
frameworks.

5.To postpone marriage, make sure girls finish their education.

6.Community engagement is the process of using community activities to alter attitudes and
social norms.

7.Giving families financial assistance to lessen the financial motivation for child marriage.

5.Conclusion

One of the most serious human rights abuses in the world is child marriage. In recent years, there
have been a lot of child marriage in Bangladesh. The right of girls to make important decisions
regarding their sexual health and well-being is denied by early marriage. It pushes children out of
school and into a life of bad chances, where they are more likely to experience violence, abuse,
poor health, and an early or unexpected death(Kabir et al., 2019). Given the prevalence of
child marriage and its correlation with increased fertility and decreased fertility control—factors
associated with a number of detrimental maternal and child health outcomes—it is imperative
that appropriate marriage rules and regulations be upheld, as well as a strong commitment to
adress this national and international crisis.
6.Reference

1.UNICEF. (2021, December 22). Child marriage country profiles. UNICEF DATA.

https://data.unicef.org/resources/child-marriage-country-profiles/

2. UNICEF. (2023, May 3). A profile of child marriage in South Asia | UNICEF South Asia.

Www.unicef.org. https://www.unicef.org/rosa/reports/profile-child-marriage-south-asia

3. Child marriage - UNICEF DATA. (2024, May 7). UNICEF DATA.

https://data.unicef.org/topic/gender/child-marriage

‌4. Kabir, Md. R., Ghosh, S., & Shawly, A. (2019). Causes of Early Marriage and Its Effect on

Reproductive Health of Young Mothers in Bangladesh. American Journal of Applied

Sciences, 16(9), 289–297. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2019.289.297