Early pregnancy, workplace vulnerability prevalent in RMG sector: icddr,b study

Nearly 65% of female garment workers in Bangladesh had their first pregnancy before turning 18, while two-thirds were married before reaching adulthood, according to a new longitudinal study by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b).

The findings were presented today at a seminar titled "Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights among Female Garment Workers Living in Urban Slums of Bangladesh: Insights from a Longitudinal Cohort Study" at the Sasakawa Auditorium. Conducted by icddr,b's AdSearch unit with support from Global Affairs Canada, this is the first study of its kind in the country. 

The 24-month research, carried out between August 2022 and December 2024, followed 778 women aged 15–27 working in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector and living in Dhaka's Korail and Mirpur slums and the Tongi slum in Gazipur. Participants were surveyed every six months.

Teenage Pregnancy, marriage, and workplace vulnerability

The study revealed that unintended pregnancies are common: one in three women reported at least one, and one in four had undergone abortion or menstrual regulation procedures. 

Early marriage and adolescent motherhood were linked with increased domestic violence, which rose over the study period, while psychological abuse at work increased from 48% to 55%. 

Despite the risks, only 20% of victims reported workplace abuse, and informal support from family or friends declined sharply from 35% to 21%. 

Factory-level reproductive health services remain scarce; only 22% of factories provide sanitary pads, and a mere 14% offer family planning materials or information.

Awareness, education, and empowerment

The study highlighted improvements in reproductive health awareness, though gaps remain. Knowledge of emergency contraception rose from 15% to 39%, and long-term family planning awareness grew from 49% to 70%. 

Support for joint decision-making with husbands increased from 54% to 71%. Women with at least nine years of schooling, who married later, and used contraception before their first child, were less likely to experience a teenage pregnancy. 

Greater mobility, participation in household decisions, and the ability to voice opinions also significantly reduced the risk of spousal violence, underscoring the protective role of education and empowerment.

Expert insights and recommendations

Dr Ruchira Tabassum Naved, principal investigator and Emeritus Scientist at icddr,b, stressed, "Despite being economically active, the sexual and reproductive health of female garment workers is worse than that of other women. The government, development organisations, and partners must take collective action." 

Farzana Sharmin, Joint Secretary of BKMEA, highlighted the challenges posed by a patriarchal society and stressed the need for increased awareness, accessible contraceptives, and flexible government clinic hours. 

Yasmin H Ahmed, former Executive Director of Marie Stopes Bangladesh, urged providing contraceptive counselling and supplies within factories, while Dr Ubaidur Rob, former Director of Population Council Bangladesh, emphasised that rising workforce participation must be accompanied by measures to reduce unwanted pregnancies through knowledge and awareness.