66pc of garment workers married before 18, one in four has had an abortion

Child marriage and teenage pregnancies are alarmingly common among women working in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment sector, according to new research.

The study found that more than two-thirds (66%) of female garment workers were married before turning 18, with most experiencing their first pregnancy while still underage.

The findings were presented on Monday at a seminar on “Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Female Garment Workers” at the icddr,b auditorium in Mohakhali, Dhaka.

Unintended pregnancies and abortions were also reported at disproportionately high rates.

Nearly one-third of the workers surveyed said they had faced at least one unintended pregnancy, while one in four reported undergoing either an abortion or menstrual regulation.

The research was conducted with support from Global Affairs Canada, the icddr,b-led study spanned about 24 months and is the first of its kind in Bangladesh.

Between August 2022 and December 2024, researchers surveyed 778 married female garment workers aged 15 to 27 across Korail and Mirpur slums in Dhaka, as well as Tongi in Gazipur, under the organisation’s Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance programme.

Participants were interviewed every six months during the study period.