A Review of Social and Behavior Change Programs Addressing Early Childbearing Among Very Young Adolescents in Bangladesh

This material reviews USAID’s Agency for All Project’s assessment of social and behavior change (SBC) programs addressing early childbearing among very young adolescents (VYAs) in Bangladesh. The project synthesized learning from existing evidence, key informant interviews, organizational mapping, community consultations, and solutions workshops. Findings indicate that few SBC interventions target VYAs, especially those aged 10-12, and that current programs do not comprehensively address the socio-ecological determinants of adolescent childbearing. The project highlights the need for tailored, multi-level SBC programs that adapt to changing conditions and leverage opportunities in Bangladesh. Recommendations include increased investment in programs addressing early marriage and systematic data collection to better understand VYA needs and scale effective interventions.