Browsing by Author "Rashid, Sabina F."

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Binary Framing of Consent and Coercion of Child Marriage: A Critique
(Young Lives, 2020) Mowri, Seama; Sultana, Rafia; Biswas, Subas; Azmi, Raia; Ahsan, Sairana; Rashid, Sabina F.
The rhetoric around child marriage continues to be framed in binary terms, with the difference between ‘arranged’ and ‘love’ marriages hinging on the concept of consent.1 The context in which consent is constructed, however, remains less explored. ‘Lack of consent’ is a very hard concept to define. Most studies tend to focus on the support for, and history of, victims of non-consent (Abu Amara, Guiné, and Hamel 2013) rather than seeking to define it, since the research concerns women who report being the victims of forced marriage. Overall, the concept of consent has been left relatively undefined and understudied. It is important to rectify this and collectively agree to what constitutes affirmative consent, so we can truly know how far theory and practice coincide, and whether genuine consent is truly possible within the institutions of poverty and marriage. In this chapter, we examine the socio-cultural construction of consent, especially with regard to early or child marriage,2 and the intersecting structural inequalities that constrain particular groups of young women in the urban slums of Bangladesh. As Nicole-Claude Mathieu (1985) rightly pointed out, ‘giving in is not the same as consenting’; similarly, our analysis of 65 qualitative interviews with adolescent girls and young women also suggests that consenting to marriage is almost never free of degrees of socio-cultural obligations, control of sexuality, persuasion, pressure, threat and force from different actors. We explore a range of situations where young women yield to social pressures and consent to marriage. However, ‘pressure’ in this context is not necessarily limited to violence or intimidation, but rather marriage as a norm that cannot be challenged. The girls attribute their early marriages and lack of alternatives to circumstances ‘beyond their control’. The affection and trust that they felt for their parents prevented them from labelling their obligations as coercion. On the other hand, there are cases of girls who claimed to have been ‘forced to consent’ to marry their boyfriends who would have otherwise ‘committed suicide’. These narratives warrant contextualisation to determine the consent–coercion continuum.
Do poor people’s dreams ever come true? Educational Aspirations and Lived Realities in Urban Slums in Dhaka, Bangladesh
(Springer Link, 2022-02) Sultan, Maheen; Saeger, Jennifer; Rashid, Sabina F.; Haque, Mohammed Ashraful; Khondaker, Sahida
Bangladesh has made progress in advancing adolescent girls’ education, but there remain substantial evidence gaps around age and gender differences in motivations, retention, and access to education for adolescents living in urban slums. This article draws on quantitative and qualitative data collected in 2017 and 2018 by Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) with adolescents aged 10–17 across three low-income areas in Dhaka to explore adolescent educational attainment, aspirations, and environmental factors that constrain both. We find high educational and professional aspirations among adolescents and their parents, with parental support being an important predictor of both current enrolment and adolescent aspirations. Location is also an important predictor of adolescent aspirations and enrolment, highlighting the importance of infrastructure and services, integration into the city, and stability of the community (including schools and facilities), along with higher incomes and better employment opportunities for households.
Early Marriage among Adolescent Boys and Young Men in Urban Informal Settlements of Bangladesh
(Young Lives, 2020) Biswas, Subas; Azmi, Raia; Mowri, Seama; Ahsan, Sairana; Sultana, Rafia; Rashid, Sabina F.
Early marriage continues to be a major public health concern and a violation of child rights, particularly in developing countries.1 Girls are disproportionately more likely to marry before the age of 18 compared to boys, and the vast majority of research, policy and advocacy on child marriage relates specifically to girls (Parsons et al. 2015; Patton et al. 2016; Svanemyr et al. 2015; Wodon et al. 2017). However, adolescent boys also marry early.2 Although the prevalence of child marriage among boys and young males is lower than girls, in recent times, the global prevalence of early marriages among adolescent boys has gained some prominence. An analysis by the United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF) reported that 115 million boys and men were married before the age of 18 (with one in five before age 15) (Gastón, Misunas, and Cappa 2019). However, in South Asia this rate is around 5% (Malhotra et al. 2011; Verma, Sinha, and Khanna 2013). The Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey 2011 reported that nationally around 4% of men aged 20-24 were married by age 18 (National Institute of Population Research and Training, Mitra and Associates, and ICF International 2013). However, boys residing in poor, urban informal settlements are more likely to marry early compared to the national average, with a study of informal settlements in Dhaka finding that around 46% of males were married before age 18 (Khan 2014). Although the risks and consequences of early marriage differ for boys and girls on account of biological and social differences, the practice is nonetheless a human rights violation for children of both sexes. Similar to child brides, when boys marry early they also face many potentially negative health and economic consequences which threaten their well-being (Greene et al. 2015; Misunas, Gastón, and Cappa 2019). Adolescent boys who marry early experience an abrupt transition to adulthood with pressure to drop out of school and to assume new household financial responsibilities. This potentially impacts their job prospects, owing to being deprived of skills that continued education would have allowed (Gastón, Misunas, and Cappa 2019). Being young, they are often psychologically and socially unprepared to take on the responsibilities that come with marriage and fatherhood (Matlakala, Makhubele, and Mashilo 2018). In spite of this, the vulnerabilities of adolescent boys in early marriages remain largely ignored in the development agenda, which puts more emphasis on the vulnerabilities experienced by girls and women due to the disadvantages the latter face with respect to gender inequality (The Lancet 2015). Boys’ and young men’s experiences and perspectives remain significantly less researched and overwhelmingly neglected by social interventions, policy and advocacy programmes (Greene et al. 2015). 1 ‘Early marriage’ is defined as any marriage or union between two people where one or both partners is under the age of 18 (UNICEF 2005). However, the Child Marriage Restraint Act 2017 sets the minimum age of 21 years for males and 18 for females for marriage in Bangladesh (Government of Bangladesh 2017). 2 We prefer to use ‘early marriage’ instead of ‘child marriage’ as ‘child marriage’ is heavily associated with girl’s marriage in the Bangladeshi context. When a boy gets married before their legal age of 21 years, this is considered as an ‘early marriage’ rather than ‘child marriage’.
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
Mobilising demand for primary health care services among urban slums: Insights from a case study in Bangladesh
(Taylor & Francis, 1/23/2021) Adams, Alayne M.; Rashid, Sabina F.
This qualitative case study examines a pilot community mobilisation initiative to increase access to qualified primary health care services among slum dwellers in Bangladesh. Emerging from analysis are a series of key considerations in the design and implementation of mobilisation activities in poor urban settlements. These include who best to mobilise in highly stratified social settings; how to bridge communities in need with outside resources; the role of development agents in organising participation; whether mobilisation processes can be phased over time; and the imperative of policy advocacy to shift complex structural inequities that preclude investments in health care for the urban disadvantaged.
The Heterogeneous Lives of Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Urban Slums in Bangladesh
(Young Lives, 2020) Ahsan, Sairana; Mowri, Seama; Biswas, Subas; Sultana, Rafia; Azmi, Raia; Rashid, Sabina F.
Child marriage is defined as any marriage taking place before the age of 18 years (UNICEF 2018). Around 720 million women worldwide were married before they were 18 years old (UNICEF 2014), of which almost 50% were in South Asia (UNFPA and UNICEF 2016a), where 1 in 2 women marry under the age of 18 (Plan Asia Regional Office and ICRW 2013). Child marriage is a violation of human rights and a deep-rooted phenomenon that reflects the vulnerability of adolescent girls in society, as they are often treated as a financial liability for the family (UNICEF n.d.). Poverty and illiteracy are the main drivers of child marriage and, although it has declined in the last 30 years, child marriage is still one of the foremost risks to adolescent girls’ health and well-being (UNICEF n.d.). Adolescents represent almost 20% of Bangladesh’s total population, of whom 14.4 million are girls (Ainul et al. 2017). Bangladesh also has the highest prevalence of child marriage within South Asia (UNFPA and UNICEF 2016b) and fourth highest internationally (UNICEF 2016). In Bangladesh, child marriage is not considered, by most people, to be a form of sexual violence which negatively impacts the health of adolescent girls due to an increased risk of early pregnancy (UNICEF n.d.). Studies in rural and peri-urban Bangladesh have identified poverty, rigid social norms, lack of education and earning opportunities, higher dowry for older girls, and parental fear of sexual violence as causes of early marriage among girls (Plan Asia Regional Office and ICRW 2013; Mahmud and Amin 2006; Chowdhury 2004). However, there remains a dearth of knowledge regarding what drives early marriage in urban areas, especially slums. To address this, a large mixed-methods research study was conducted between 2015 and 2018, which aimed to understand the phenomenon of early marriage in urban slums, followed by an in-depth exploration of selected cases. Overall, the study found that: ● The dynamics of child marriage in urban slums are heavily influenced by the interplay of personal, socio-cultural and structural factors. ● Poverty and lack of education are major drivers of child marriage. ● Young girls from poor, broken families seek child marriage as a way out of poverty. ● Girls from supportive or influential families exhibited strong aspirations to study and work, despite setbacks such as early marriage or early pregnancy. ● A major and emerging cause of child marriage was romantic relationships between adolescent boys and girls. ● Parents’ decision-making around child marriage was driven by concerns over the safety and security of adolescent daughters, given the high prevalence of organised crime and sexual harassment in slums. ● The advent of the garment manufacturing industry has exponentially increased employment opportunities, especially for adolescent girls, as 80% of garment workers in Bangladesh are female (World Bank 2017).