Community-Level Correlates of Physical Violence against Unmarried Female Adolescents in Bangladesh

Kristin VanderEnde, Emory University
Ruchira Naved, ICDDR,B
Sajeda Amin, Population Council

Using multilevel logistic regression analysis, we examined the community-level correlates of physical violence against unmarried female adolescents in Bangladesh. We compared these findings to the results of analyses of community-level correlates of physical violence against unmarried male adolescents and married female adolescents. The data for this analysis were taken from a 2005 nationally representative survey of 20,000 adolescents aged 10 to 24 living in Bangladesh. The results of the analysis demonstrate that communities in Bangladesh have, on average, high levels of physical violence against unmarried female adolescents, and these levels vary widely across communities. Community-level acceptance of physical punishment against adolescents was related to unmarried female (but not male) adolescents’ risk of experiencing physical violence. It is important to find and target communities in which adolescent girls are at higher risk of experiencing physical violence. Programs and policies must focus specifically on changing attitudes regarding treatment of women and girls.