Prevalence and Potential Risk Predictors of Undernutrition Among Under-Five Children in Island Areas of Bangladesh
Md Abdul Aziz1, Mohammad Mozibul Haque1, Afia Nawar2
1Department of Applied Food Science and Nutrition Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Chattogram Bangladesh.
Insights
Undernutrition is a significant issue for children in Bangladesh
Area of Science:
- Child Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Undernutrition is a critical threat to child development in Bangladesh's remote islands.
- High prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting observed.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the prevalence of undernutrition.
- Identify risk predictors among children under five in island regions.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study in 13 unions across two islands.
- Random sample of 549 children under five.
Main Results:
- Underweight (36.80%), wasting (24.60%), and stunting (47.20%) are prevalent.
- Key predictors include diarrhea, acute respiratory infection (ARI), caregiver anemia, and socioeconomic factors.
- Wasting associated with vaccination status, family size, birth order, maternal health, and education.
Conclusions:
- Child undernutrition in island areas is multifactorial.
- A multisectoral approach is essential to enhance nutritional status.
Background:
Undernutrition poses a major threat for the growth and development of children in remote island regions of Bangladesh.
Methods:
This study investigated the prevalence and risk predictors of undernutrition among children under five in the island regions of Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 13 unions across two islands, with a random sample of 549 children.
Results:
Descriptive analyses showed that underweight (Z-score < -2), wasting (Z-score < -2), and stunting (Z-score < -2) were prevalent, with rates of 36.80%, 24.60%, and 47.20%, respectively. Significant predictors of underweight included a history of diarrhea (AOR = 2.24, p < 0.001), acute respiratory infection (ARI) (AOR = 1.84, p < 0.01), anemic caregivers (AOR = 1.52, p < 0.05), and belonging to day labor families (AOR = 0.29, p < 0.01). Childhood wasting was significantly associated with partial vaccination (AOR = 2.84, p < 0.001), large family size (AOR = 1.79, p < 0.05), higher birth order (AOR = 0.58, p < 0.05), diarrhea (AOR = 3.09, p < 0.001), anemic mothers (AOR = 1.89, p < 0.05), primary (AOR = 3.35, p < 0.05) and secondary (AOR = 4.11, p < 0.01) maternal education, and fathers working abroad (AOR = 0.42, p < 0.05) or as daily laborers (AOR = 0.17, p < 0.001). Stunting was more common among children with partial vaccination, diarrhea, and ARI, and less common among those with a history of fever or those from day laborer families.
Conclusion:
Overall, undernutrition among children in the island areas of Bangladesh is influenced by multiple factors, necessitating a multisectoral approach to improve their nutritional status.
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