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Residential district multi-hazard risk is associated with childhood undernutrition: evidence from Bangladesh

Md Belal Hossain1,2, Jahidur Rahman Khan3, Mahmood Parvez2

  • 1School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

International Journal of Environmental Health Research
|June 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Children in high-risk disaster districts in Bangladesh face increased stunting and underweight. Addressing multi-hazard risks is crucial for child nutrition.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Child undernutrition and natural disasters are significant public health issues in Bangladesh.
  • Limited research exists on the relationship between natural disaster risk and child undernutrition in the region.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the association between residential district multi-hazard risk and undernutrition in children under five years old in Bangladesh.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 22,055 children under five from the 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey of Bangladesh.
  • Calculated a multi-hazard risk score based on tornado, cyclone, earthquake, and flood data.
  • Categorized districts into low, moderate, and high multi-hazard risk levels.

Main Results:

  • Children in high multi-hazard risk districts showed a 19% increased likelihood of stunting and a 23% increased likelihood of being underweight compared to those in low-risk districts.
  • No significant association was found between multi-hazard risk and wasting in children.
  • The study highlights a clear link between environmental hazards and specific forms of child undernutrition.

Conclusions:

  • High multi-hazard risk districts are associated with increased stunting and underweight in children under five in Bangladesh.
  • Interventions focusing on agricultural adaptation, post-disaster nutritional support, and enhanced maternal and child care are recommended.
  • Mitigating disaster risks is essential for improving child nutrition outcomes in vulnerable populations.

Keywords:
Undernutrition; multi-hazard; stunting; wasting; underweight

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