Factors Affecting an Age at First Marriage among Female Adolescents in Bangladesh

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to study the factors associated with age at first marriage among female adolescents utilizing the nationally representative survey data of Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), 2007. Logistic regression analyses have been used to study the factors affecting on age at first marriage in Bangladesh. Respondent’s educations, husband’s education, region and working status of respondents are found to have significant effect on age at first marriage. Findings need to be scientifically utilized in developing suitable programs addressing the case of early marriage, particularly in Barisal, Khulna and Rajshahi.

Keywords: Adolescence, Age at first marriage, Contingency table, Odds ratio.