| Distribution and Risk Factors of Child Malnutrition in Bangladesh, based on Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey-2014 Data |
| Authors: |
Mahfuzur Rahman, and Papia Sultana |
| Source: |
Journal of Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 10(1): 425; DOI: 10.4172/2155-6180.1000425 |
| Topic(s): |
Child health
Nutrition
|
| Country: |
Asia
Bangladesh
|
| Published: |
AUG 2019 |
| Abstract: |
Background: Malnutrition is the root causes of morbidity and mortality amongst pre-school and school going
children in Bangladesh. In addition, malnutrition not only affects individuals but its effects are passed from generation
to generation. Hence, the study aimed to investigate the latest nutritional status of under-?ve children and identify the
risk factors of child malnutrition in Bangladesh using Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey-2014 along with its
distribution and composition.
Data and methodology: The data used for the present study has been derived from Bangladesh Demographic
and Health Survey (BDHS-2014). Sample of size 6965 has been used in this study extracted from 7886 kids’ record of
BDHS-2014 with information on height and weight. Descriptive analysis has been performed to know the characteristics
of the study subjects. Distribution of the z-scores is investigated, too. Then nutritional status has been clustered to gender,
residence and division. And ?nally, binary logistic regression analysis has been used to identify in?uential factors that are
signi?cant to child malnutrition.
Results: It has been found that 12.2% of under-?ve children are severely stunted and 24.91% are moderately
stunted. It has been also found that 3.19% of under-?ve children are severely wasted, 11.74% are moderately wasted,
8.34% are severely underweighted and 24.69% are moderately underweighted. The malnutrition status (stunted) does
not differ signi?cantly to gender (p-value=0.239), but does signi?cantly differ to residence (p-value<0.001) and to division
(p-value<0.001). When adjusted to all the factors, children of age group 18-23 months are signi?cantly and about 7 times
more likely to be stunted than children of less than 6 months age (adjusted odds ratio, AOR=6.72, 95% con?dence interval
(CI)=4.94, 9.14). It has been found that Female children are less likely to be stunted than male (AOR=0.89, 95% CI=0.80,
0.99). Birth interval less than 24 months is another correlates of child malnutrition (AOR=1.37, 95% CI=1.10, 1.70).
Underweighted mothers are more likely to have stunted child. Children of educated parents are less likely to be stunted.
Children of Sylhet division are most likely to be stunted. Children of rural areas are 16% less likely to be stunted than
urban area (AOR=0.84, 95% CI=0.74, 0.96). Children of richest families are 60% less likely to be stunted than poorest
group (AOR=0.40, 95% CI=0.32, 0.50). However, job of parents is not found to have signi?cant association with nutritional
status of under-?ve children in Bangladesh.
Conclusion: In conclusion it can be said that increasing educational facilities for mothers and fathers can improve
the child nutrition. Government and policymakers may take comprehensive and concrete challenge to overcome wealth
inequities. Therefore, immediate actions are required to address all these issues to improve the nutritional status of
children in Bangladesh. |
| Web: |
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335340723_distribution-and-risk-factors-of-child-malnutrition-in-bangladesh-based-on-bangladesh-demographic-and-health-survey2014- |
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