Patterns and Differentials of Age at First Motherhood Among Married Adolescents in Bangladesh

Md Abdul Karim,Mohammad Omar Faruk

doi:10.11648/j.bs.20210703.15

Abstract

Background: The focal point of this study is to investigate the current scenario of age at first motherhood among ever married adolescents in Bangladesh because early initiation into childbearing is generally the most important determinant of reproductive span, large family size, and population growth. Methods: The study uses the 2017-18 nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) data. In addition to the descriptive measures, Pearson’s Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis are employed to determine the significant association and impact of explanatory variables on age at adolescent first motherhood, respectively. Results: The overall mean age at adolescents’ first motherhood is 16.34±1.45 years, with marked variations by available explanatory variables. The bivariate analysis shows that the variables: current age, respondents’ education, place of residence, access to mass media, wealth index, age at first cohabitation, continue studies after marriage, spousal age difference, education, and occupation of husbands are significantly associated with age at adolescents’ motherhood. Multivariate binary logistic regression reveals that current age, respondents’ education, wealth index, age at first cohabitation, spousal age gap, and husbands’ occupation significantly impact the age at first motherhood among adolescents in Bangladesh. Conclusions: This study’s results will be helpful for the policymakers to take necessary steps to increase the age at first cohabitation to raise the age of adolescent first motherhood by increasing the literacy rate, minimizing the spousal age difference, and improving the socio-economic conditions for good reproductive health, and further reducing fertility in Bangladesh.

Highlights

Adolescents’ age at first cohabitation and motherhood are important components of reproductive span and fertility where marriage is universal
The United Nations International Children Fund (UNICEF) reported that one in every fifth child is born by a teenage mother, and 80% of these adolescent pregnancies occur in third-world countries [6, 7]
Differentials of teenage motherhood elucidate that the lowest mean age at adolescent motherhood (15.26±1.24) is found among the respondents whose age at first cohabitation is between 12-14 years, followed by respondents whose current age is 15-17 years (15.27±1.03)

Summary

Introduction

Adolescents’ age at first cohabitation and motherhood are important components of reproductive span and fertility where marriage is universal. The bivariate analysis shows that the variables: current age, respondents’ education, place of residence, access to mass media, wealth index, age at first cohabitation, continue studies after marriage, spousal age difference, education, and occupation of husbands are significantly associated with age at adolescents’ motherhood. Current age 15-17 18-19 Religion Muslim Others Respondents Education Illiterate Primary Secondary and higher Division Barisal Chittagong Dhaka Khulna Mymensingh Rajshahi Rangpur Sylhet Type of place of residence Urban Rural Ever had a terminated pregnancy No Yes Respondent currently working No Yes Access to Mass Media No access Have access Wealth Index Poor Middle Rich Body Mass Index Underweight Normal Overweight Ever use of contraception No Yes Age at first cohabitation 10-14 15-18 Continue study after marriage No Yes Spousal age difference 0-7 8-14 15-22.

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Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion