Real people, real impact, real change.

We’d like to take you through the difficult choices many mothers, fathers, adolescent girls and children have to make when faced with issues related to maternal and sexual reproductive health. Find out what it’s like from the people living through it daily.

Name: Ainul
Occupation: Van Driver
Location: Bangladesh
Partner: Lazina

See Ainul &
Lazina's choices

Name: Golapi
Occupation: N/A
Location: Bangladesh
Partner: Zakir

See Golapi's
choices

Ainul and Lazina

Ainul is a van driver in the northern district of Nilphamari. He and his wife Lazina had their first child, a baby girl. A traditional birth attendant (called a "dai" in Bangladesh) came to their home to deliver the newborn, and several severe complications arose.

What choices do Ainul and Lazina have?

Go to the hospital Call on a doctor to
do a house call Do nothing

Response lives here

Next choice

Ainul and Lazina

When Lazina became pregnant for the second time, she and Ainul feared the horrors of her first delivery would recur. However, there were options available this time.

Explore the options

Community discussions All male discussions

Response lives here

Conclusions

Ainul and Lazina

Realizing the importance of proper health facilities, equipment and qualified staff, Ainul and Lazina delivered their second, healthy child through the Union Health and Family Welfare Centres. Recognizing the vast difference between the births of his first and second children, Ainul was determined to share his life-saving knowledge with other expecting couples in his community. “Since the birth of my second child I tell people about safe delivery and what they should do,” Ainul said.

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Golapi

In Bangladesh, almost 30% of girls are married by the age of 15. Golapi was far from an exception. At only 14 years old, she was forced into an early marriage with Zakir, a rickshaw driver. She became pregnant immediately after, while she was still a child herself.

What are Golapi's options?

Explore her maternal health options Seek Family Support Do nothing

Response lives here

Next choice

Golapi

Only three months later, while Golapi’s body was still recovering from her first pregnancy, Golapi became pregnant again.

What are Golapi’s options this time?

See a doctor for
prenatal health care Lean on a “dai” (traditional birth attendant) Do nothing

Response lives here

Next choice

Golapi

After experiencing the trauma of losing two babies, Golapi and her husband were distraught. However there were options available to Golapi this time.

Explore the options

Community
Discussions Training and
Support

Response lives here

Conclusion

Golapi

Golapi and her husband waited a few years before having another child. Her next pregnancy occurred at 20, when her body was more mature. When Golapi gave birth to her third child, experience, time and knowledge all led to a safe delivery that resulted in the birth of a healthy baby.

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