Peer-reviewed article

Double Burden of Malnutrition among Mother-Child Dyads in a Rural Area of West Bengal, India: A Comprehensive Analysis of Contributing Factors.

T Sengupta, A K Mallick, M Sahu, S Sarkar · 1 Jun 2025

Abstract

Background The double burden of malnutrition (DBM), where undernutrition and overnutrition coexist, is a new paradigm in the global nutritional landscape. With an increasing rate of obesity and a gradual decline in undernutrition, India is currently experiencing this public health challenge. At the household level, among mother-child pairs, this disparity in nutritional status is becoming evident. Objective To assess the prevalence and patterns of the double burden of malnutrition among mother-child dyads and to determine the factors associated with this condition. Method In this observational, cross-sectional study, the nutritional status (double burden of malnutrition) of 360 mothers and their children (aged 0 - 23 months) from a rural community of West Bengal, India, was assessed. Data were collected via interviews using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire and through standard anthropometric measurements. The collected data were subsequently analyzed using SPSS (Version 25). Result The findings showed that 16.1% of the mother-child pairs had double burden of malnutrition, the highest being the pair of overweight/obese mother-stunted children (10%). Mother's education (aOR 4.19, CI 1.65-10.62), food-insecure households (aOR 3.27, CI 1.51-9.16), and lower socio-economic class (aOR 2.70, CI 1.09-6.67) were found to be significantly associated with the presence of double burden of malnutrition among participants. Conclusion The double burden of malnutrition among mother-child dyads can be seen as a dual nutrition challenge that needs to be addressed with paramount importance. This contrasting form of malnutrition claims a renewed focus and program intervention through the equity-focused policies of Double Duty Action.