Early and Very Early Family Formation in Bangladesh

• Main Author: Zahangir, Mohammad Salim
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Stockholms universitet, Sociologiska institutionen 2011
• Subjects: Demography; Demografi
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-60011

The purpose of this study is to examine the causes and consequences of teenage family formation of women inBangladesh. For that purpose the 2007 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) data are used. Multinomial logistic regression analysis shows that background factors such as type of place of residence, religion and ever attendance of schooling are important for distinguishing women who marry at ‘early’ or ‘very early’ ages from those who marry at more mature ages. Administrative region and woman’s birth cohort matter as well. In socioeconomic terms, due to teenage family formation the majority of girls receive little or no education, more often get involved in low-paid work and often turn out to lack exposure to mass media. In demographic terms, because of teenage family formation girls become exposed to greater spousal age differences, experience longer duration from marriage to first birth and achieve higher completed fertility.