Peer-reviewed article

Risk Factors of Coexisting Form of Undernutrition Among Under-5 Children in Bangladesh: Evidence From BDHS 2022 Data in a Bayesian Setting.

Afrida Tasnim, Moinur Rahman, Onnesha Saha, Md Moyazzem Hossain · 1 Sept 2026

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Children in underdeveloped countries frequently suffer from malnutrition, which can have both short-term and long-term consequences, including cognitive impairment (i.e., stunting), underweight, wasting and ultimately mortality. It is necessary to understand the underlying causes and risk factors associated with this burden. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how risk factors affect coexisting forms of undernutrition (CFU) among Bangladeshi children under the age of 5, with the aim of suggesting possible strategies to enhance nutritional outcomes. METHODS: This study is based on secondary data extracted from the BDHS 2022 dataset, consisting of 4085 children aged under 5. Descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, the Boruta algorithm and logistic regression are used in a Bayesian setting. RESULTS: Findings revealed that the prevalence of CFU is 19.44%, and the majority of them were from the Sylhet division. Children from lower wealth indices and those living in urban areas are at higher risk of CFU. Children of uneducated mothers have 3.4 times higher odds (95% CrI: 2.352, 5.001) of CFU than those of higher educated mothers; children of underweight mothers have 1.6 times higher odds (95% CrI: 1.338, 2.092); and children of overweight or obese mothers have 0.6 times higher odds (95% CrI: 0.532, 0.794) than children of mothers with a normal weight. The odds of having CFU are 1.2 and 1.4 times greater (95% CrI: 0.953, 1.553 and 1.103, 1.790) for children from the poorer and poorest households compared to children from middle wealth families and 0.8 and 1.7 times higher (95% CrI: 0.600, 1.145 and 1.405, 2.191) for children whose birth order is at least six and who are older than 23.9 months. A child's nutritional health is also influenced by a number of other important factors, including the child's age and birth order, the mother's age at first birth, breastfeeding status, TV access, toilet facilities, divisions and residence. CONCLUSION: The authors suggest that, in addition to improving mothers' health and other socio-demographic factors, targeted interventions should be developed to reduce the prevalence of CFU.