Nutritional Status in Early Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy – A Cross-Sectional Study in Rural and Semi Urban Area of Bangladesh

Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescence is a critical period of growth and development, during which adequate nutrition is essential to meet increased physical and cognitive demands. In Bangladesh, early marriage and teenage pregnancy remain common, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, exposing young girls to heightened risks of undernutrition, anaemia, and poor dietary intake. This study aims to describe the nutritional status of married adolescent girls and pregnant teenage women in selected rural and semi-urban areas of Bangladesh. Methods & Materials: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from January 2024 to December 2024 in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Dhaka Dental College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 72 married adolescent girls aged 13–19 years, including both pregnant and non-pregnant participants, were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26. Result: In this study, 40.3% were underweight, 47.2% had normal BMI, and 12.5% were overweight, with underweight more prevalent among pregnant adolescents (50%) than non-pregnant (29.4%). Anaemia was observed in 56.9% overall, affecting 65.8% of pregnant participants. Dietary assessment revealed limited diversity, with high consumption of cereals but low intake of dairy (29.2%), fruits (38.9%), and animal-source foods (45.8%). Early marriage was significantly associated with poorer nutritional status, as underweight prevalence decreased from 57.7% among those married ≤15 years to 18.8% among those married ≥18 years. Conclusion: This study revealed that early marriage and teenage pregnancy significantly impact the nutritional status of adolescent girls in rural and semi-urban areas of Bangladesh. A considerable proportion of participants were undernourished, with low BMI, anaemia, and inadequate dietary intake.