□ Think about what the adverse effects of child marriage can be and
write a 200 word passage on the topic.
□ Imagine that a child marriage has been arranged in your
neighbourhood. Discuss with your friends how you would convince the parents of
the girl to cancel the marriage.
2. Read the text and answer the
questions that follow:
Shilpi was only 15 years old when she married Rashid in 2008. Marrying
off daughters at an early age is a standard practice for many families living
in rural Bangladesh. After her wedding, Shilpi joined a local empowerment group
that provides adolescent girls with the tools needed to gradually change
cultural practices, particularly those pertaining to early marriage and
pregnancy.
The group's activities include discussions on how to most
effectively change behaviour related to reproductive health as well as
one-on-one counselling. It also offers peer-to-peer support and life skills
training that help adolescents say no to early marriage. The empowerment group
is one of more than 10,000 groups supported by some local Non-Government
Organizations (NGOs) working all over Bangladesh. These NGOs work through
Canada's Adolescent Reproductive Health Project which also aims to increase
access to quality health services for adolescents. During one of the group
sessions, Shilpi came to understand the potentially harmful effects of early
marriage and pregnancy.
While maternal mortality in Bangladesh has declined by nearly 40
percent since 2001, the rate remains high with 194 maternal deaths per 100,000,
live births in 2010-dropping from 322 in 2001 with a projected decrease to 143
by 2015. Girls who get pregnant are at risk of serious health complications.
These include dangerous
hemorrhage and fistula, a painful internal injury caused by obstructed
childbirth that commonly leads to serious maternal morbidities and social
exclusion.
When Shilpi heard about those risks, she invited her husband, Rashid,
to discuss pregnancy with a counsellor. After hearing about the risks, Rashid
agreed to delay having children for five years despite pressures from his
parents and neighbours to produce an offspring. Together, the couple met with a
female health care provider, who informed them about the various family
planning options available.
Shilpi's mother-in-law and neighbours continued to pressurize the
newlyweds. Deeply rooted cultural practices and traditions caused a rift
between Shilpi and Rashid and their extended family, some of whose members
insulted and criticized the couple. Unable to convince their close relatives of
the risks, Shilpi and Rashid returned to the counsellor. They took the help of
a parent peer who has been trained to speak to other parents about adolescent
issues. Shilpi's mother-in-law and neighbours eventually came to understand the
harmful effects of early pregnancy on mother and child.
Today, the village no longer pressurizes the couple; their parents and
neighbours now support them and speak out against early marriage and pregnancy.
3. Discuss the following
questions in pairs:
a. Why did Shilpi decide to delay her pregnancy?
b. How were Shilpi and her husband able to handle the pressure for
having children?
c. What are the various health-related services that couples like
Shilpi and Rashid need?
d. Is there any empowerment group working in your area? If yes, what
do they do?
e. As an adolescent boy/girl, what peer support can you provide to
boys and girls in your locality who have already married?
4. The graph below shows the
percentage of 15-19 and 20-24-year-old married women in urban and rural areas
in Bangladesh who have experienced physical or sexual violence. What do you
think arc the reasons for violence against women? Discuss the graph in small
groups.
5. Complete the passage below
that describes the graph. Use the words given in the below:
evident in contrast than older
victims alarming compared
to with
The graph illustrates the percentage of married women aged 15-19 and
20-24 who have experienced physical or sexual violence. In general, it is seen
from the graph that women of both age groups arc more likely to be victims of
physical violence (a)-------sexual violence. The graph shows that 39.8 % of
rural married adolescents (aged 15-19) and 35.3 % of urban adolescents have
experienced some form of physical violence. On the other hand, 11.8% and 16.8%
respectively of the urban age groups of 15-19 and 20-24 have been (b)--------of
sexual violence. According to the graph, 11.8% and 16.8% married women in urban
areas in the age groups of 15-19 and 20-24 respectively have experienced sexual
violence (c)--------22.2% and 20.2% married women in rural areas, It is also
(d)-------from the graph that young women aged 20-24 are more likely to have
experienced physical violence than adolescents aged 15-19. (e)-------, younger
women in rural areas are somewhat more likely to have experience of sexual
violence than (f)------women. Overall, the graph shows an (g)-------picture of rural
and urban adolescents and young becoming victims of violence.
6. Adolescent health quiz:
Take the quiz to see how healthy you are. Tick each item that is true
for you. Each tick mark is worth 1 point. Add up the points and check your
score.
Life at home
□ You have the opportunity to make decisions that are important to
you.
□ You can talk to caring and responsible adults about important
things.
□ You feel safe at home.
□ You understand and follow the rules your parents have set for you.
Life at College
□ You do well in college and ask for help when you need it.
□ You plan to do well in your HSC examination.
□ You can complete your homework/college tasks on your own.
Making good choices
□ Your friends do not use or offer you cigarettes, alcohol or drugs.
□ You have friends who are trustworthy.
□ You are active in college sports, cultural clubs and voluntary
organizations.
Healthy lifestyle
□ You have 3 healthy meals each day including breakfast.
□ You take 3 calcium rich food items, such as milk or yogurt everyday.
□ You eat enough fruit and vegetables daily.
□ You avoid eating food high in fat, sugar and salt most days of the
week.
□ You watch 2 hours of TV or less every day.
□ You exercise or play sports daily.
Bonus points
□ You volunteer in your community to help others.
□ You do things to help out at home.
Your total score is...........
□ If your total score is 6 or less, you really need to think about
changing yourself.
□ If your total score is 7-10, you still need to work toward a healthier
you.
□ If your total score is 11 or higher, you have a healthy life. Keep it
up)
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fuqn.':iiitit»UL—I ,.I X ,*X981, ID&tabid-W]
7. If your score is II or
higher, explain how important the family is in shaping one's future.
8. If your score Is less than
10, write a page discussing how you think you can change your situation for the
better.
9. Find out the meaning of the
following words and w rite sentences using them:
a. empowerment
b. reproductive
c. counselling
d. peer
c. potential
f. hemorrhage
g. obstructed
h. morbidity
i. option
j. advocate
If you want to read the next lesson of this unit please click the link below:
Lesson 5: Amazing Children and Teens Who Have Changed the World
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