Peer-reviewed article
Malnutrition among under-5 children and its determinants in the southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh: A community-based study.
Shahinur Akter, Nishana Afrin Nishu ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined stunting (chronic malnutrition) and its causes among children under 5 in two coastal villages in southwestern Bangladesh. Researchers measured the height of children and surveyed their mothers to identify factors linked to stunting. The study found that over 86% of children were stunted to some degree, with stunting most common among children of younger mothers, non-working mothers, and those without prior experience of child loss.
Key points
- 57.5% of children were severely stunted and 29% were moderately stunted, affecting over 86% of the under-5 population
- Mothers aged 21-30 years had children significantly more likely to be severely or moderately stunted
- Children of non-working mothers were 4 times more likely to be moderately stunted and 2.5 times more likely to be severely stunted
- Children aged 24-36 months were less likely to be moderately stunted than older children
- Mothers with prior experience of child mortality had children less likely to be stunted
Limitations
This is a cross-sectional study that identifies associations but cannot determine cause and effect. The findings are specific to two coastal villages in Bangladesh and may not represent other regions or rural areas.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The study examines the prevalence of stunting, the most common form of malnutrition and its determinants among children under-5 in the southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTINGS: Two coastal villages of the Bagerhat and Khulna districts of Bangladesh. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were selected using the simple random sampling technique with the following criteria: mothers who had at least one under-5 child and resided in the study area for not less than three consecutive years. OUTCOME MEASURES: To assess the nutritional status particularly, stunting (height for age) in children under-5, a standardised anthropometric measurement tool, such as a height-measuring vertical scale, was used and categorised into severely stunted, moderately stunted and normal height. RESULTS: The study found that 57.5% of children were severely and 29% were moderately stunted. Findings revealed that mothers' age, prior experience of under-5 mortality, mothers' working status and age of the children were significant determinants of stunting prevalence among children under-5. Moreover, children of mothers aged 21-30 years (AOR = 2.190; 95% CI: 1.039 to 4.613; p = 0.039) and children of mothers without prior experience of under-5 mortality (AOR = 4.426; 95% CI: 1.461 to 13.405; p = 0.009) were more possibly to be severely and moderately stunted, respectively. Additionally, children of non-working mothers were more likely to be moderately (AOR = 4.037; 95% CI: 1.382 to 11.792; p = 0.011) and severely stunted (AOR = 2.538; 95% CI: 1.033 to 6.238; p = 0.042). Moreover, children aged ≤24 months (AOR = 0.151; 95% CI: 0.034 to 0.661; p = 0.012) and 25-36 months (AOR = 0.195; 95% CI: 0.046 to 0.829; p = 0.027) were less possibly to be moderately stunted. CONCLUSION: The study recommends training young mothers on effective child-rearing practices, creating income opportunities for women in rural Bangladesh, implementing local awareness programmes about appropriate growth standards for children and expanding facility-based healthcare centres in rural areas for better access to quality healthcare.