The physical cost of early marriage
Early marriage often leads to early motherhood, when a girl’s body is not yet physically ready. This contributes to a lifetime of health complications, from uterine disorders to chronic anemia and even disability
Highlights
- 51% of girls in the country married off before 18
- 11% of women cannot independently decide on contraception
- 10% cannot access essential healthcare services
- 33% cannot refuse sexual intercourse
- Early pregnancy contributes to health complications, from uterine disorders to chronic anemia
- Reproductive health still a taboo topic
At just 16, Shefali Akhter's (not her real name) dreams were replaced with duties. A bright student at Borhanuddin Government High School in Bhola, she was preparing for her SSC exams when family pressure pushed her into an early marriage with a local electronics trader in 2022.
A year and a half into the marriage, Shefali gave birth to a daughter via C-section. The baby was stillborn. But that was only the beginning of her ordeal. Following the cesarean delivery, Shefali's lower body – ankle to waist – went numb. Despite treatment in major hospitals across the country, she has not recovered. To this day, Shefali cannot walk properly.
Her deteriorating health brought turmoil to her marriage. Unable to meet her husband's expectations and enduring constant conflict, Shefali's marriage collapsed after three years, leaving her back at her father's home – emotionally broken and physically disabled.
Shefali had once dreamed of becoming something; she had scored GPA-5 in eighth grade and aspired to complete her SSC and pursue higher education. While her peers now head to universities, she lies on a bed, awaiting medical miracles. Her family has one wish: for her to walk again. Shefali's own wish is to return to school.
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Shefali's story is echoed by many other girls across Bangladesh. Rokeya Begum, a domestic worker in Dhaka's Eskaton area, was married off at 15. By 24, she had four daughters. Years of physical stress from early and frequent pregnancies left her with severe health issues.
"My spine is degenerating. I have chronic back pain. If I don't take painkillers for a day, I can't work the next," Rokeya told The Business Standard. "Whatever I earn, I spend on treatment."
These stories are not isolated. Early marriage often leads to early motherhood, when a girl's body is not yet physically ready. This contributes to a lifetime of health complications, from uterine disorders to chronic anemia and even disability.
According to the UNFPA's State of World Population Report 2025, 51% of girls in Bangladesh are married before the age of 18.
The report titled "The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World" reveals that 11% of Bangladeshi women cannot independently decide on contraception, 10% cannot access essential healthcare services, and 33% cannot refuse sexual intercourse.
Dr Nahla Bari, head of Obstetrics and Gynecology at MH Samorita Hospital, told The Business Standard, "Adolescent mothers suffer from severe pregnancy-related complications – anemia, high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, obstructed labor, and premature delivery.
"Becoming a mother at a young age poses risks for both the mother and the child."
According to Unicef data, girls aged 15-19 are twice as likely to die during childbirth compared to those above 20, and those under 14 face five times the risk.
Monjun Nahar, head of Partnership and Fund Raising at Marie Stopes Bangladesh, said the issue is systemic. "Early marriage is not just a health risk, it's a death risk."
She said, "Most girls get pregnant immediately due to family and societal pressure. They're unaware of contraception or where to seek help. Reproductive health remains a taboo topic."
She added that many suffer from conditions like fistula or other irreversible complications. "When that happens, husbands often remarry, but no one asks what caused the illness in the first place."
Monjun also warns of a rising trend – early marriages through relationships. Many adolescents in the country now get married after falling in love.
"Whether arranged or by choice, it is still early marriage. We cannot alienate these girls. We need systems to support them."
Preventing child marriage needs more than blaming families, experts say. The state must step in; ensuring education, safety, and reproductive health rights for girls.
"We don't want existing marriages to break. But married adolescents must have access to contraception, regular antenatal care, safe delivery services, and counselling support," said Monjun. "Only then can we break the cycle."
This article has been produced in association with Badabon Sangho.
