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.

Health Care Science
|December 26, 2025
PubMed

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.
Abstract

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