Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116873

Sidney Ruth Schuler, PhD¹, Farzana Islam, PhD², MD Khairul Islam, PhD³, Lisa M. Bates, SM⁴, and Geeta Nanda, DrPH¹. (1) Empowerment of Women Research Program, Academy for Educational Development, 1825 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202-884-8676, gnanda@aed.org, (2) Anthropology Department, Jahangirnagar University, 1-3A Lalmatia, Block C, Mohammadpur, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh, (3) PLAN International, H58 Rd 7A, 5th Fl., Dhamondi R/A, Dhaka, 1209, Bangladesh, (4) Department of Health and Social Behavior, Harvard School of Public Health, 70 Chiswick Rd. #20, Brighton, MA 02130

Very early marriage and childbearing (EM&C) undermines the rights and health of adolescent girls and women, and the health and survival of their offspring. EM&C is widespread, particularly in Africa and South Asia. EM&C is rooted in gender inequality and reinforced by other features of marriage systems, such as dowry and the expectation that brides should be virgins. Survey data suggest that the mean ages at marriage and initiation of childbearing have risen only slightly in the past decade in Bangladesh, despite a variety of policies and programs intended to promote later marriage and childbearing. Findings from the authors' recent qualitative study in three villages point to a gap between knowledge, attitudes and practice, especially among the very poor; many parents recognize that EM&C are undesirable yet they continue to marry off daughters when they reach puberty. Based on data from about 90 linked in-depth interviews with young married couples and their parents, this presentation will explore the reasons for this growing “KAP gap.” Numerous national surveys worldwide have noted KAP gaps with respect to family planning and have interpreted them as an indication of an “unmet need" for high quality family planning services. The presentation will analyze policy and program implications of our study findings employing the concept of unmet need.

Learning Objectives: