Chapter 4

Result and Discussions

4.1 Introduction

The study focus on the present scenario of early marriage and early conception of women, A
case of slum areas in meherpur city, Bangladesh. And also examines the factors that are
associated with early marriage and early conception. The study used primary data from slum
areas in meherpur city, Bangladesh. This study includes face to face interview of 105 ever
married women. Chi-square test were used in this study to examine the determinants of age at
first marriage and age at first conception. Logistic regression analysis was applied to find out the
most significant factors of early marriage. It was found that respondent’s education, father’s
education, husband’s education, monthly family income and religion have the significant effect
on early marriage and early conception in Bangladesh.

4.2 Socio-economic characteristics of the respondents

There are some socio-economic characteristic of the respondent’s, these are respondent’s
education, husband education, father’s education, family monthly income and religion.

Table 4.1 Selected socio-economic characteristics of the respondents

Respondent’s age Frequency (N=105) Percentage (100)

< 15 years 4 3.80
15-19 years 39 37.14
20-24 years 46 43.80
25+ years 16 15.23

Percentage (100)
50

40

30

20 Percentage (100)

10

0
< 15 years 15-19 years 20-24 years 25+ years

Figure 4.1: Respondent’s age

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Comment: Results indicate that, majority of the respondents (43.8%) are in age group 20 to 24
years, followed by the respondents at age group 15 to 19 years(37.14%) and 25 years and above
(15.23%).

Respondent’s education Frequency(N=105) Percentage (100)

No education 30 28.57
Primary 44 41.90
Secondary 28 26.66
Higher secondary and higher 3 2.85

Percentage (100)
50
40
30
20
10 Percentage (100)
0
No Primary Secondary Higher
education secondary
and higher

Figure 4.2: Respondent’s education

Comment: Respondents with primary education consists 41.90% followed by secondary
education (26.66%). The percentage of the respondents having higher secondary and higher
education is as low as 2.85.and no education is 28.57.

Father’s education Frequency (N=105) Percentage (100)

No education 49 46.66
Primary 37 35.23
Secondary 17 16.19
Higher secondary and higher 2 1.90

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 Percentage (100)
50
40
30
20
10 Percentage (100)
0
No Primary Secondary Higher
education secondary
and higher

Figure 4.3: Father’s education of the respondent’s

Comment: Figure shows that 46.66% of the respondent’s fathers have no education. About
35.23% and 16.19% fathers have primary and secondary education respectively. Fathers with
higher secondary and higher education consists a negligible percentage of 1.90.

Husband’s education Frequency (N=105) Percentage (100)

No education 15 14.28
Primary 38 36.19
Secondary 42 40
Higher secondary and higher 10 9.52

Percentage (100)
50
40
30
20
10 Percentage (100)
0
No Primary Secondary Higher
education secondary
and higher

Figure 4.4: Husband’s education of the respondent’s

Comment: In case of husband’s education, 40% have secondary education followed by primary
education(36.19%). The percentage of the husbands who are illiterate is as high as 14.28% and
only 9.52% have higher secondary and higher education.
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Family’s monthly income in Frequency (N=105) Percentage (100)
(BDT)
Less than 3000 3 2.85
3000-3999 12 11.42
4000-4999 35 33.33
5000+ 55 52.38

Percentage (100)
60
50
40
30
20
10
0 Percentage (100)

Figure 4.5: Family monthly income of the respondent’s

Comment: It is observed from the family’s monthly income information that, near about
47.62% of the respondents have their monthly family income less than BDT 5000 and remaining
half have BDT 5000 and above.

Religion Frequency (N=105) Percentage (100)

Muslim 98 93.33
Non-Muslim 7 6.66

Percentage (100)
100
80
60
40 Percentage (100)
20
0
Muslim Non-Muslim

Figure 4.6: Religion of the respondent’s

respondent

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Comment: figure indicate that most of the Respondent’s are Muslim(93.33) and remaining
6.66% are non-Muslim.

We see from the above (Table 4.1). Results indicate that, majority of the respondents (43.8%)
are in age group 20 to 24 years, followed by the respondents at age group 15 to 19 years(37.14%)
and 25 years and above (15.23%). Still half of the female population (50.4%) is illiterate
throughout the country (WMS, 2009). Among the study population, about three out of every ten
respondents have no education. Respondents with primary education consists 41.90% followed
by secondary education (26.66%).
The percentage of the respondents having higher secondary and higher education is as low as
2.85. Education of parents especially father’s education plays a vital role for the education of
their children. It is observed that, 46.66% of the respondent’s fathers have no education. About
35.23% and 16.19% fathers have primary and secondary education respectively. Fathers with
higher secondary and higher education consists a negligible percentage of 1.90. In case of
husband’s education, 40% have secondary education followed by primary education (36.19%).
The percentage of the husbands who are illiterate is as high as 14.28% and only 9.52% have
higher secondary and higher education. It is commonly agreed that, the slum areas are largely
dominated by poverty. It is observed from the family’s monthly income information that, near
about 47.62% of the respondents have their monthly family income less than BDT 5000 and
remaining half have BDT 5000 and above. Most of the respondents are Muslim (93.33) and
remaining 6.66% are non-Muslim.

4.2 Selected demographic characteristics of the respondent’s

There are some demographic characteristics of the respondents, these are Age at first marriage,
age at first conception, use family planning method by respondent’s, use family planning method
by husband.

Table 4.2 Selected demographic characteristics of the respondents

Age at first marriage Frequency(N=105) Percentage (100)

Less than 15 31 29.52
15-17 55 52.38
18+ 19 18.09

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 Percentage (100)
60

50

40

30
Percentage (100)
20

10

0
Less than 15 15-17 18+

Figure 4.7: Age at first marriage of the respondent’s

Comment: Figure shows that the respondents (81.09%) were married before their age 18 years
.Only 18.09% respondents were married at age 18 and above.These age groups (<15 years, 15
to17 years and 18 + years).

Age at first conception Frequency (N=105) Percentage (100)

No conception 09 8.57
Less than 15 15 14.28
15-17 46 43.80
18+ 35 33.33

Percentage (100)
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
Percentage (100)
15
10
5
0
No Less than 15 15-17 18+
conception

Figure 4.8: Age at first conception of the respondent’s

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Comment: Figure indicate that 43.80% women’s age at first conception were15 to 17 years and
14.28% women’s age at first conception were less than 15 years. The percentage of women,
whose age at first conception was 18 years and above was only 33.33%

Use FP method by respondents Frequency(N=100) Percentage(100)

Yes 78 74.28
No 27 25.71

Percentage(100)
80
70
60
50
40
30 Percentage(100)
20
10
0
Yes No

Figure 4.9: Use FP method by respondents

Comment: 74.28% of the respondents used family planning method whereas, the Percentage of
those are not using family planning method was as high as 25.71%.

Use FP method by husband’s Frequency(N=100) Percentage(100)

Yes 37 35.23
No 68 64.76

Percentage(100)
70
60
50
40
30 Percentage(100)
20
10
0
Yes No

Figure 4.10: Use FP method by husbands

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Comment: Figure indicate that 64.76% husband are not using family planning method and only
35.23.2% were using this method.

There are some selected demographic characteristics of the respondents presented in the above
(Table 4.2) Parents may genuinely feel that their daughter will be better off and safer with a
regular male guardian, that may resulted in the early marriage of their daughters which leads to
early conception. A lion-share of the study respondents(81.09%) were married before their age
18 years .Only 18.09% respondents were married at age 18 and above.These age groups (<15
years, 15 to17 years and 18 + years).
Early marriage extends a woman’s reproduction span, thereby contributing to large family size,
especially in the absence of contraception . It is observed from Table 2 that, 43.80% women’s
age at first conception were15 to 17 years and 14.28% women’s age at first conception were less
than 15 years. The percentage of women, whose age at first conception was 18 years and above
was only 33.33.
An interesting finding is that, majority of the mothers give birth to their first child in such an age
when they are also considered as a child. Very few girls in early marriage in developing
countries have access to contraception Only 74.28% of the respondents used family planning
method whereas, the percentage of those are not using family planning method was as high as
25.71%. 64.76% husbands are not using family planning method and only 35.24% were using
this method.

4.3 Socio-economic correlates of early marriage of women

Here we began with the association between different age at first marriage and some selected
socio-economic variables. The selected socio-economic variables are respondent’s education,
father’s education, husband’s education, monthly family income of the respondent’s and religion
of the respondent’s.
Table 4.3 Association between age at first marriage and some selected socio-economic
variables

Variables Age at first marriage

Respondent’s Less than 15 15-17 18+ Total

education
No education 9(30) 17(56.66) 4(13.33) 30(100)
Primary 15(34.09) 23(52.27) 6(13.63) 44(100)
Secondary 7(25) 15(53.57) 6(21.42) 28(100)
Higher secondary 0(0.0) 0(0.0) 3(100) 3(100)
&higher
Total 31(29.52) 55(52.38) 19(18.09) 105(100)

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Chi-square (cal)=23.48 , DF=6 , chi-square(tab)= 12.59
Comment: The association between different level of respondent’s education are significantly
associated with the higher age at first marriage .However, the precise nature of the interaction
between education and marriage is not always evident.

Age at first marriage

Father’s education Less than 15 15-17 18+ Total

No education 15(30.61) 27(55.10) 7(14.28) 49(100)
Primary 12(32.43) 18(48.64) 7(18.91) 37(100)
Secondary 4(23.52) 10(58.82) 3(17.64) 17(100)
Higher secondary 0(0.0) 0(0.0) 2(100) 2(100)
&higher
Total 31(29.52) 55(52.38) 19(18.09) 105(100)

Chi-square (cal)=15.07 ,DF= 6, chi-square(tab)=12.59

Comment: The association between different levels of father’s education and the age at first
marriage of their daughters are statistically significant.

Age at first marriage

Husband’s Less than 15 15-17 18+ Total

education
No education 5(33.33) 9(60) 1(6.66) 15(100)
Primary 13(34.21) 20(52.63) 5(13.15) 38(100)
Secondary 12(28.57) 22(52.38) 8(19.04) 42(100)
Higher secondary 1(10) 4(40) 5(50) 10(100)
&higher
Total 31(29.52) 55(52.38) 19(18.09) 105(100)

Chi-square (cal) = 27.11, DF=6, chi-square (tab)=12.59

Comment: Incase of husband’s education of the respondents, where illiterate husband willingly
marry a girl with an early age than those have different levels of higher education and the
differences are statistically significant.

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 Age at first marriage

Family’s monthly Less than 15 15-17 18+ Total

income in (BDT)
Less than 3000 1(33.66) 1(33.33) 1(33.33) 3(100)
3000-3999 4(33.33) 6(50) 2(16.66) 12(100)
4000-4999 10(28.57) 19(54.28) 6(17.14) 35(100)
5000+ 16(29.09) 29(52.72) 10(18.18) 55(100)
Total 31(29.52) 55(52.38) 19(18.09) 105(100)

Chi-square (cal)=1.74 , DF=6 , chi-square(tab)=12.59

Comment: Family’s monthly income plays a critical role. The percentage of women, who are
married at less than 15 years of their age, is decreased as their family’s monthly income
increased, and the differences are statistically not significant.

Age at first marriage

Religion Less than 15 15-17 18+ Total

Yes 29(29.59) 51(52.04) 18(18.36) 98(100)
No 2(28.57) 4(57.14) 1(14.28) 7(100)
Total 31(29.52) 55(52.38) 19(18.09) 105(100)

Chi-square (cal)=0.373 , DF=6 , chi-square(tab)=12.59

Comment: The Percentage of the respondents who are married at an early ages are much higher
among the Muslim than their non-Muslim counterparts and the differences are statistically not
significant.

Table 4.4 Results of Chi-Square Test to Test Significant Variables

Variables Chi- Chi- Decision

square(cal) square(tab)
Respondent’s education 23.48 12.59 Significant
Father’s education 15.07 12.59 Significant
Husband’s education 27.11 12.59 Significant
Family’s monthly income in (BDT) 1.74 12.59 In-Significant
Religion 0.373 12.59 In-Significant

We see that from the above table (table no 4.3) the association between different age at first
marriage and some selected socio-economic variables (Table 4.3).Quite similar results are
observed from (Table 4.3) where higher levels of respondent’s education are significantly

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associated with the higher age at first marriage. Father’s education plays a vital role in the early
marriage of their daughters.
Many parents in traditional societies still believed that investment in a girl’s education is wasted,
when she is simply going to be married and work in another household. This concept is quite
strong among illiterate fathers. Fathers with lower level of education have a higher tendency to
the early marriage of their daughters and the association between different levels of father’s
education and the age at first marriage of their daughters are statistically significant.
Similar results also found in case of husband’s education of the respondents, where illiterate
husband willingly marry a girl with an early age than those have different levels of higher
education and the differences are statistically significant .Poverty is considered one of the major
factors underpinning early marriage, where family’s monthly income plays a critical role. The
percentage of women, who are married at less than 15 years of their age, is decreased as their
family’s monthly income increased (Table 4.3), and the differences are statistically not
significant .The percentage of the respondents who are married at an early ages are much higher
among the Muslim than their non-Muslim counterparts and the differences are statistically not
significant.
At 5% level of significance, it can be found from the chi-square table that, the variables
respondent’s education, husband’s education, father’s education were highly significant.and the
other variables religion and family monthly income’s were highly not significant.

4.4 Results of logistic regression analysis on early marriage

Logistic regression analysis technique is used in this study to identify the significant relationship
of the independent variables on age at first marriage when the variables are taken together. For
this purpose, the dependent variable, age at first marriage is dichotomized by assessing the value
of 0 for age at first marriage being less than 18 years and the value of 1 for age being 18 years
and above, as the country’s legal age at marriage for female is 18 years.Results based on the
multivariate logistic regression analysis for the early age at first marriage is shown in (Table
4.5).

Table 4.5. Results of logistic regression analysis on early marriage of the respondents

Respondent’s Coefficient Std. Odds ratio

education error
No education - - 1
Primary -0.59* 0.43 0.65
secondary and higher 0.23 0.27 1.53

Father’s education Coefficient Std. Odds ratio

error
No education - - 1
Primary -0.35* 0.38 0.75
secondary and higher 0.40* 0.40 1.43

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 husband’s education Coefficient Std.error Odds ratio
No education - - 1
Primary -0.25 0.48 1.65
secondary and higher 0.83*** 0.48 2.53

Family monthly coefficient Std. error Odds ratio

income
Less than 4000 - - 1
4000+ 0.27 0.47 1.25

Religion coefficient Std. Odds ratio

error
Muslim - - 1
Non-Muslim 0.19 0.59 1.89

From the above table no 4.5 we see that, Education is the single factor most strongly related to
the postponement of marriage. it is evident that education is a key determinant for the variation
in the age at first marriage. Respondents with secondary and higher education are 23% more
likely to marry at age 18 years and above than their illiterate counterparts.Respondents with
primary education are39% negatively significant and less likely to marry at age18 years and
above than the reference category.
In cases of father’s education, similar results are also found, where fathers with secondary and
higher education have 35% significantly with more tendency at the late marriage (that is, 18
years and above) of their daughters than those are illiterate. But, primary educated fathers are
22% negatively significant and less likely to prefer late marriage of their daughters than the
reference category. Early marriage is also very much affected by the family’s monthly income
Superstitious on religion influences to get early.marriage and it is quite available in Muslim
society. Non Muslim-respondents are 1.18 times more likely to prefer marriage at age 18 years
and above than their Muslim counterparts.
The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that, at 5% level of significance, the earlier
formulated alternative hypothesis 1, hypothesis 2, hypothesis 3, were accepted. But hypothesis 4
and hypothesis 5 were not accepted. So, the alternative hypotheses containing variables,
Respondent’s education, husband’s education, father education were accepted but monthly
family income and religion were not accepted.

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4.5 Conclusion
Early marriage is a serious issue in the society. Not only in under developed countries but
developing countries also have cases of early marriage. The average age at first marriage for
female in Bangladesh is 16.0 years (BBS, 2011). Early marriage is more frequent for female than
their male counterparts. In this study we see that Father’s education plays a vital role in the early
marriage of their daughters. Fathers with lower level of education have a higher tendency to the
early marriage of their daughters and the association between different levels of father’s
education and the age at first marriage of their daughters are statistically significant. Poverty is
considered one of the major factors underpinning early marriage, where family’s monthly
income plays a critical role. The percentage of women, who are married at less than 15 years of
their age, is decreased as their family’s monthly income increased and the differences are
statistically not significant .The percentage of the respondents who are married at an early ages
are much higher among the Muslim than their non-Muslim counterparts and the differences are
statistically not significant .

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