Peer-reviewed article

Prevalence and determinants of low birth weight and its association with child malnutrition in Bangladesh.

Mahmud MA, Chowdhury S, Hamim AAM, Haque A · 25 Mar 2026

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite improvements in Bangladesh’s socioeconomic circumstances and numerous public health initiatives, child malnutrition remains a serious public health concern. With a prevalence rate of 22.6%, which is higher than the international standard in developed nations, lower birth weight (LBW) has been identified as one of the significant risk factors of poor health outcomes in children. To create interventions to improve maternal and pediatric health outcomes in the sociocultural context of Bangladesh, this study attempts to determine the relationships among socioeconomic and demographic factors, LBW, and malnutrition among children under five. METHODS: This cross-sectional study assesses the impact of LBW on childhood malnutrition using data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2022. Stunting (low height-for-age), wasting (low weight-for-height), and underweight (low weight-for-age) were used to quantify malnutrition according to the World Health Organization’s child growth guidelines; values below-2 standard deviations were considered malnourished. Descriptive statistics summarized the study population. Adjusted risk ratios were estimated to measure the association between LBW and malnutrition, while controlling for demographic and socioeconomic confounders. Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel statistics and multivariable regression models were utilized to identify associated risk factors. RESULTS: The study included a total of 2,427 children under the age of five from Bangladesh. The prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight was 23.2%, 10.9%, and 20.1%, respectively. Among children with LBW, 33.1% were stunted, 14.0% of were wasted, and 29.6% were underweight, compared with children born with normal birth weight. Adjusted risk ratios indicated that LBW was significantly associated with higher risks of stunting (RR = 1.38), wasting (RR = 1.52), and underweight (RR = 1.38). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that LBW is strongly associated with a higher risk of malnutrition among children under the age of five in Bangladesh. Targeted maternal-focused interventions are required; at the same time, improvement in maternal education and socio-economic conditions will help to improve child nutritional outcomes in Bangladesh.