The impact of climate-related disasters on early marriage and reproductive health in Bangladesh

Time

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (GMT+6)

Session abstract

Bangladesh faces severe challenges from climate-related disasters like cyclones, floods, and rising sea levels, impacting vulnerable populations, especially women and girls. Addressing these requires evidence-based interventions aligned with SDGs 13 (Climate Action), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and 5 (Gender Equality). This session will focus on climate-resilient practices emphasising early marriage prevention, reproductive health, and environmental sustainability. Climate change exacerbates socio-economic vulnerabilities, often forcing families into coping mechanisms like child marriage. Displacement and resource scarcity heightens risks as families seek to reduce financial burdens or protect daughters in unstable environments. Targeted interventions promoting education, economic empowerment, and community awareness have effectively reduced early marriage rates in Bangladesh. This session will showcase a few successful cases that effectively reduced early marriages in disaster-prone locations of Bangladesh.

Climate-related disasters disrupt access to essential health services, particularly for girls and women of reproductive age. Ensuring reproductive health during disasters is critical for preventing maternal mortality, managing pregnancies, and addressing gender-based violence. Mobile clinics, community health volunteers and pre-positioning inter-agency reproductive health kits in Bangladesh have successfully provided reproductive health support during disasters. This session will showcase a few reproductive health-related interventions that ensured meeting reproductive health needs to meet SDG 3.

Aligning humanitarian actions with the SDGs and focusing on early marriage and reproductive health are vital to advancing climate-resilient development in Bangladesh. Integrating gender equity and health considerations into climate adaptation strategies addresses immediate needs and fosters long-term resilience. This collaborative approach lays the foundation for a sustainable future adaptable to diverse global contexts.

Agenda

Explore the impact of climate change and climate-related disasters on vulnerable populations

To analyze how climate change exacerbates socio-economic vulnerabilities, particularly for women and girls in Bangladesh. This includes understanding how disasters like floods and cyclones increase the risk of early marriage and disrupt access to essential services, including reproductive health.

Discuss strategies for preventing early marriage in climate-impacted areas

To highlight interventions that address the root causes of early marriage, including economic vulnerabilities exacerbated by climate change. This will focus on promoting education, economic empowerment, and community awareness to reduce early marriage rates in affected communities.

Discuss interventions available to promote disaster-resilient health systems for reproductive health

To highlight interventions that address saving women and girls' lives from missed abortion, post-abortion complications during disasters. Also, to highlight the interventions that can develop the capacity of health workforce in Bangladesh and resource-poor context.

Explore the integration of reproductive health in climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies

social determinants of health in the context of climate crises, humanitarian actions, and adaptation and mitigation strategies are vital to foster long-term resilience

Session format

The session will feature three experts and will be 60 minutes. Each speaker will present for 15 minutes (45 minutes) followed by question and answer (Q&A) from the audience.

The Q&A session will be moderated by the Moderators with active engagement from the virtual audience. The moderator will facilitate audience interaction and ensure a structured dialogue.

Follow-up and knowledge continuity

Unanswered questions during the Q&A will be collated by the BSMMU team and addressed individually by the relevant speakers. Responses will be shared on the event webpage and emailed to participants upon request, ensuring continuous knowledge exchange and engagement beyond the live session.

Live streaming and digital accessibility

The event will be recorded and streamed live on YouTube, enhancing accessibility for a global audience. This approach ensures that those unable to attend in real-time can benefit from the insights shared and revisit key discussions at their convenience.

Strategic promotion and audience outreach

Dedicated LinkedIn and Facebook event pages will be established to drive participation and engagement. BSMMU will leverage its robust social media presence (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn) to promote the event, generate interest, and foster pre-event discussions within humanitarian, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and global health networks.

Interactive engagement tools

To enhance interactivity, the sessions will incorporate live polls and audience surveys. These tools will capture real-time feedback and perspectives on anticipatory actions for disaster mortality reduction, fostering a dynamic and participatory learning environment.

Organizational expertise

BSMMU has experience hosting virtual events targeting global DRR, humanitarian, and health sectors. This expertise ensures a seamless, impactful event that effectively engages a diverse and international expert audience.

Speakers

Moderator

shared between Dr Fariha Haseen and Professor Nibedita S. Ray-Bennett

Speakers

Dr. Fariha Haseen, Associate Professor of Public Health and Informatics, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Dr Elvina Mustary,Deputy Director, Reproductive Health Services Training and Education Program, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Dr Te Klangboonkron, Project Coordinator, Avoidable Deaths Network, University of Leicester, UK.