Emerging changes in reproductive behaviour among married adolescent girls in an urban slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Full Abstract

Structural and social inequalities, a harsh political economy and neglect on the part of the state have made married adolescent girls an extremely vulnerable group in the urban slum environment in Bangladesh. The importance placed on newly married girls' fertility results in high fertility rates and low rates of contraceptive use. Ethnographic fieldwork among married adolescent girls, aged 15-19, was carried out in a Dhaka slum from December 2001-January 2003, including 50 in-depth interviews and eight case studies from among 153 married adolescent girls, and observations and discussions with family and community members. Cultural and social expectations meant that 128 of the girls had borne children before they were emotionally or physically ready. Twenty-seven had terminated their pregnancies, of whom 11 reported they were forced to do so by family members. Poverty, economic conditions, marital insecurity, politics in the household, absence of dowry and rivalry among family, co-wives and in-laws made these young women acquiesce to decisions made by others in order to survive. Young married women's status is changing in urban slum conditions. When their economical productivity takes priority over their reproductive role, the effects on reproductive decision-making within families may be considerable. This paper highlights the vulnerability of young women as they pragmatically make choices within the social and structural constraints in their lives.

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Author information

Author/s: Rashid, Sabina Faiz (SF);

Affiliation: Social & Medical Anthropology: Reproductive Health and Gender, James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. sabina(-atsign-)bracuniversity.net

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Reproductive health matters (Reprod Health Matters), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-May; vol 14 (issue 27) : pp 151-9

Dates: Created 2006/05/22; Completed 2006/07/11; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16713890, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Marriage - trends
Poverty Areas
Pregnancy
Pregnancy in Adolescence - statistics & numerical data
Pregnancy, Unwanted
Reproductive Behavior
Social Class
Urban Population - trends

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