- Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO) (Funding Partner)
- Reproductive Health Services Training and Education Program (RHSTEP) (Implementation Partner)
- MOMODa FOUNDATION (Research Partner)
- Dr. Momoe Makino
- Dr. Abu S Shonchoy
- Md. Rahidul Islam
- Mst. Farzana Akter
In the Gaibandha District, where 70% of girls marry early and 64% become pregnant before 18, raising concerns about maternal and newborn mortality, MOMODa FOUNDATION, in collaboration with IDE JETRO and FIU, is executing a project to delay adolescent pregnancies among girls aged 14–17, even in cases of early marriage. This initiative aims to improve the health, education, and economic prospects of adolescent girls by providing sexual and reproductive health education, distributing contraception kits and pills, and offering free consultations.
Since February 2024, MOMODa FOUNDATION has conducted monthly sessions to enhance adolescent girls’ knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, forming 60 Kishori Clubs across 60 villages in Gaibandha Sadar and Saghata Upazilas. Between February and December 2024, 11 out of 12 planned sessions were completed, starting with an introductory session and followed by topic-specific discussions and post-session evaluations. Additionally, free family planning kits were provided to recently married girls in the groups. From February to December 2024, the average attendance rate was 91.43%, with research indicating reductions in adolescent pregnancies and child marriages.
Child marriage is a serious social problem that affects millions of girls in Bangladesh. According to UNICEF, Bangladesh has the fourth highest rate of child marriage in the world, with 53% of all marriages involving girls under 18 in 2019. Child marriage has negative impacts on the health, education and happiness of little girl and their families. One of the serious consequences of child marriage is early pregnancy, posing a great danger to the lives of mothers and children. A study by MOMODa FOUNDATION found that adolescent girls are more likely to experience birth complications and perinatal death than adult women. The study also showed that the time from first marriage to pregnancy did not differ depending on the woman’s age at marriage, meaning that most girls became pregnant soon after marriage. Early pregnancy can also disrupt girls’ education and limit their opportunities for personal and economic development.