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Published on: June 20, 2020
Functional difficulty among young children in Bangladesh: An analysis of nationally representative data
Maisha Maliha Rahman1, M Iftakhar Alam1, Mohaimen Mansur1
1Institute of Statistical Research and Training, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Insights
Children with mothers experiencing functional difficulty are more likely to have functional difficulty. Male children and those who are stunted also face higher risks, highlighting key factors in child disability.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Disabilities
Background:
- Functional difficulty in children is a significant, yet often overlooked, public health issue, particularly in developing nations.
- Understanding the contributing socio-demographic and anthropometric factors is crucial for effective intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the socio-demographic and anthropometric correlates of functional difficulty in young children in Bangladesh.
- To identify specific risk factors associated with child functional difficulty.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, focusing on children aged 2-4 years.
- Employed a mixed-effects logistic regression model for data analysis.
Main Results:
- Maternal functional difficulty significantly increased the likelihood of functional difficulty in children (OR = 2.75).
- Male children (OR = 1.48) and stunted children (OR = 1.50) exhibited a higher prevalence of functional difficulty.
- Mother's educational attainment (higher secondary +) and geographic division were also significantly associated with child functional difficulty.
Conclusions:
- Maternal functional difficulty, male sex, stunting, and higher maternal education are key factors associated with functional difficulty in children in Bangladesh.
- These findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions addressing child disability in developing countries.
- The study provides critical insights into the landscape of child disability within a specific developing country context.
Abstract:
Functional difficulty in children is a crucial public health problem still undervalued in developing countries. This study explored the socio-demographic factors and anthropometry associated with children's functional difficulty in Bangladesh. Data for 2-4-year-old children, obtained from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, were used in this study. The mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to analyse the data. Children whose mothers had functional difficulty were found to be 2.75 times more likely to have functional difficulty than children whose mothers had no functional difficulty (95% CI 1.63-4.63). Male children were more likely to experience functional difficulty than female children (OR = 1.48). Furthermore, stunting was found to be significantly associated with functional difficulty (OR = 1.50). The study also revealed that division and mother's education, specifically, children with mothers having higher secondary + education, had significant association with the outcome variable. The findings provided a vital overview of child disability in a developing country.
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