Mental health status of early married girls during the COVID-19 pandemic: A study in the southwestern region of Bangladesh

Background: Due to unemployment, the prolonged lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic caused panic and deepened poverty, especially among lower-class and marginal people. The related financial crises led to harmful practices such as the early marriage of adolescent girls, which deteriorated these girl's mental state. Aims: This study attempted to assess the prevalence of mental health problems among early married girls and determine the associated predictors of the growing mental health burden. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Dumuria Upazila in the Khulna district of Bangladesh. Data were collected purposively from 304 girls who were married off during the COVID-19 pandemic, this was carried out between 22 July and 31 August 2022…