Identifying Individual and Household Level Predictors of Undernutrition Among 6-59 Months Children in Bangladesh: A
Oumma Halima1, Abira Nowar1, Md Hafizul Islam1
1Institute of Nutrition and Food Science University of Dhaka Dhaka Bangladesh.
Insights
Malnutrition threatens public health globally. In Bangladesh, inadequate protein intake significantly increases stunting and underweight risks in children under five, highlighting the need for targeted nutrition programs.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Nutrition Science
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Global malnutrition poses a significant public health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
- Undernutrition among children is a critical concern impacting long-term health and development.
- Bangladesh faces substantial rates of child malnutrition, necessitating localized research and interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of undernutrition (stunting, wasting, underweight) in children aged 6-59 months in Bangladesh.
- To identify key determinants associated with these malnutrition indicators.
- To inform public health strategies for combating child malnutrition in the region.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Nutrition Survey of Bangladesh (NSB), 2017-18, including 566 children aged 6-59 months.
- Employed a multi-stage cluster sampling approach covering both rural and urban areas.
- Analyzed anthropometric measures (weight-for-age, weight-for-height) using multiple logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Prevalence rates: Stunting (34.5%), Underweight (40.6%), Wasting (20.1%).
- Significant determinants included child's age, family size, residential cleanliness, and food insecurity.
- Inadequate protein consumption was a strong predictor, with significantly higher odds of stunting (AOR: 2.02) and underweight (AOR: 2.41).
Conclusions:
- Inadequate protein intake is a primary driver of stunting and underweight in Bangladeshi children.
- Residential cleanliness and food insecurity also contribute significantly to malnutrition.
- Enhanced preventive nutrition programs are crucial for reducing malnutrition rates in Bangladesh.
Introduction:
Globally malnutrition is considered one of the greatest threats to public health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The present study examined the extent of undernutrition and the associated determinants among children aged 6-59 months in Bangladesh using data from the Nutrition Survey of Bangladesh (NSB), 2017-18.
Methods:
The sampling frame of NSB 2017-18 was specified by a 30 (locations) × 30 (households) cluster approach where 20 locations were from rural areas and the other 10 were from urban areas. Out of the sampled households, 566 children aged between 6 and 59 months were included in the analysis. Determinants of three anthropometric measures, weight-for-age (stunting), weight-for-height (wasting), and weight-for-age (underweight), were analyzed using a multiple logistic regression model.
Result:
The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting of children was 34.5%, 40.6%, and 20.1%, respectively. Although the child's age, family size, cleanliness of the residential area, and food insecurity were significant determinants of malnutrition, inadequate and low-quality protein consumption strongly predicted the development of underweight and stunting in infants and children. The odds of being stunted were 2 times (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17-3.46; p = 0.011) and underweight was almost 2.5 times (AOR: 2.41; 95% CI: 1.27-4.56; p < 0.01) higher, respectively, among children who consumed inadequate amounts of protein.
Conclusion:
Because the percentage of children from wealthy families was relatively low in the present study, cleanliness of residential areas, food insecurity, and inadequate protein intake are likely to be key drivers of malnutrition in Bangladesh, which might be significantly reduced with better coverage of preventive nutrition programs.
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