Experts say the main reasons for maternal and child deaths are child and adolescent marriages. Early marriage and pregnancy often lead to excessive bleeding during childbirth, which increases the risk of death.

Moreover, adolescent mothers face various health issues that also affect their children's health, leading to a higher risk of infant death.

World Health Day is celebrated every year on April 7. This year, the theme is "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures." According to research by the World Health Organization, 300,000 women still die each year during pregnancy or childbirth. Additionally, 2 million children die within the first month of life. Over 2 million infants are stillborn, meaning one such child dies every 7 seconds, a death that could be prevented.

According to statistics from the Directorate General of Health Services Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR), maternal deaths have been declining from 2017 to 2022. Still, they began to rise again in the last two years. In 2022, the maternal mortality rate was 62 per 100,000. In 2023, it increased to 75 per 100,000. By 2024, the rate reached 90 per 100,000. The highest maternal mortality rate last year was in the Sylhet division, where 11 women per 100,000 died.

However, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics 2023 report, 136 mothers die for every 100,000 live births. The previous year's figure was 153; in 2021, the rate was 168.

According to a report by Nutrition International, Bangladesh has the highest teenage pregnancy rate among South Asian countries. For every 1,000 girls under 19, 113 become pregnant. Experts say that the rise in teenage marriages and pregnancies is contributing to the increase in maternal deaths.

Dr. Shahnaz Khan, deputy director of Lalkuthi Maternal and Child Hospital, told Bonik Barta, "The expected decline in maternal and newborn mortality is not happening. Teenagers who get pregnant face various health risks, such as seizures, high blood pressure, and swelling in the legs. These health issues also affect the baby, increasing the risk of infant death. Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the major complications faced by adolescent mothers, leading to more maternal deaths."

According to the MPDSR report, nearly 46 percent of women who died during childbirth in 2024 did so due to excessive bleeding. In 2022 and 2023, this percentage was 31.8 percent and 41.8 percent, respectively.

An anonymous official from the Health Directorate said, "Most women who die during childbirth do so because of postpartum hemorrhage. Many of them are from rural areas. Due to a lack of necessary tests, they are unaware of their health condition and that of their unborn child. They are not under medical care before delivery. There is still a lack of awareness among them, and campaigns must be increased."

Meanwhile, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the child mortality rate in the country has increased. The BBS report on Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics (2023) states that in 2022, the mortality rate for children under one year was 25 per 1,000. In 2023, this number rose to 27. Five years ago, it was 21.

On the other hand, the mortality rate for newborns under one month has suddenly increased. In 2023, 20 out of every 1,000 live newborns died. In 2022, this number was 16. Five years ago, it was 15. Additionally, in 2023, the mortality rate for children under five years old was 33 per 1,000. In 2022, it was 31; five years ago, it was lower at 28.

Professor Dr. Emran Kabir Chowdhury, chair of the Department of Public Health at Dhaka University, told Bonik Barta, "The increase in maternal and child mortality is due to unsafe water and contaminated food. Another major cause is child and adolescent marriages. Adolescent girls who become pregnant are often not aware of the health risks for themselves or their babies. They suffer from malnutrition and anemia."

A 2023 UNICEF report states that Bangladesh ranks 8th in the world and 1st in South Asia for child marriage. A UNICEF survey of women aged 20-24 found that 51 percent of women marry before 18. Additionally, nearly 4.4 million children under five in Bangladesh suffer from stunting. Early marriage and pregnancy, lack of education, and poor nutrition are major causes.

Among women aged 12 to 49 in Bangladesh, 12 percent are underweight for their age and height. Furthermore, non-pregnant women of reproductive age in Bangladesh suffer from high levels of malnutrition.