Geospatial inequalities in women's malnutrition in Pakistan

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Maternal malnutrition in developing countries exacerbates regional disparities and hinders development.
• Poor nutrition among women impacts their quality of life and child well-being, affecting a nation's future.
• This study investigates the spatial distribution of malnutrition and associated risk factors among Pakistani women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the spatial distribution of Body Mass Index (BMI) extremes in Pakistani women.
• To identify risk factors associated with severe thinness, underweight, overweight, and obesity.
• To utilize Bayesian additive quantile regression for a comprehensive analysis.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 5,252 non-pregnant, non-lactating married women aged 15-49 from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18.
• Categorization of nutritional status using WHO Body Mass Index (BMI) guidelines: severe thinness (<16 kg/m2), underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), overweight (>24 kg/m2), and obese (>=30 kg/m2).
• Application of a structured Bayesian Geo-additive Quantile regression approach to assess associations between explanatory variables and the entire distribution of BMI.

Main Results:

• Significant regional variations in malnutrition among women of reproductive age were observed.
• Urban women exhibited a higher likelihood of being overweight compared to rural women.
• Working women were less prone to obesity, and women with unimproved toilet facilities were more likely to be overweight and obese.

Conclusions:

• Women's malnutrition presents complex and varied challenges requiring tailored interventions.
• Addressing nutritional disparities is essential for improving maternal and child health outcomes.
• Policy and public health initiatives should consider socioeconomic and environmental factors influencing women's nutritional status.