Malnutrition in Bangladesh PDF

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Running head: UNDERNUTRITION IN BANGLADESH

Undernutrition in Bangladesh Name Institutional Affiliation

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UNDERNUTRITION IN BANGLADESH

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Undernutrition in Bangladesh Undernutrition (low weight for age), which include protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrients deficiency such as minerals and vitamins is the underlying cause of over 3.5 million deaths and 35% of the burden of diseases for under five years globally (Deolalikar, 2015). Undernutrition contributes to over 11% of the disability adjusted life years (DALYs). Close of 80% of the undernourished people in the world live in just 20 countries distributed in in Middle East, Africa, Western Pacific, and Asia. In Bangladesh, child and maternal malnutrition is a serious public health issue. According to survey conducted in 2018, about 36% of pre-school children were stunted while 33% were underweight. In the same year, half of the expectant mothers and 40% of non-pregnant and non-lactating mothers were underweight (Hasan et al., 2020). Besides, adolescent motherhood is prevalent in Bangladesh with 59% of the girls getting married before 18 years of age. Studies shows that children born to adolescent and underweight mothers in Bangladesh, just like anywhere across the globe have an increased likelihood of high neonatal death, low birthweight, and consequent retarded growth (Huda et., 2018). This, together with disadvantaged social-economic status produce an intergeneration cycles of malnutrition, morbidity and mortality. As such, to address the issue of malnutrition in Bangladesh, social economic inequalities must first be addressed as they remain the key contributors to this public health concern. Household wealth and parental education are one of the main determinants of child undernutrition outcomes in Bangladesh, with a child born to parents who are well up and with higher levels of education having a favourable nutritional status. Parental education plays a significant role in a child’s nutritional intake as they are better caregiver. In contrast, parents with limited education do not have enough knowledge on micronutrient requirements and balance

UNDERNUTRITION IN BANGLADESH diet, thus contributing to malnutrition. Besides, household wealth offers a leverage for parents offer nutritious food and health enhancing supplements to their children. As such, it is likely that children from households at the low wealth spectrum and who parents have little education suffers from nutrition as it is the case with south-eastern region of Bangladesh. Further, undernutrition in Bangladesh is exacerbated by limited dietary diversity with over 70% of the diet available to most households compromising of cereals with inadequate micronutrient and protein intake (Hasan et al., 2020). In addition, poor sanitation and hygiene, which results in diarrhoea and other infectious diseases in children contributes to undernutrition. Women plays a limited role in decisions making related to household production and consumption and this also contributes to poor nutrition state of women as well as young children (Lentz, 2018). In a nutshell, undernutrition in Bangladesh is inextricably linked to continuing social norms that are intertwined with gender inequity. Women, who plays a crucial role in child caregiving need to have access to education just like their male counterparts. Besides, USAID must work in partnership with other stakeholders to ensure mother age’ at marriage and first delivery is above 18 years. By delaying the first pregnancy, women will be able to break the prevailing intergeneration cycle of low birthweight and stunting. Advocacy programs in partnership with community based organisation will help create awareness among women on dietary diversity, infant and young children feeding, and the best hygiene and sanitation practices. Besides, USAID should endeavour to empower women through income generating activities while ensuring that they have control of the income they earn.

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References Deolalikar, A. B. (2015). Poverty and child malnutrition in Bangladesh. Journal of Developing Societies, 21(1-2), 55-90. Hasan, M. M., Uddin, J., Pulok, M. H., Zaman, N., & Hajizadeh, M. (2020). Socioeconomic Inequalities in Child Malnutrition in Bangladesh: Do They Differ by Region?. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(3), 1079. Huda, T. M., Hayes, A., El Arifeen, S., & Dibley, M. J. (2018). Social determinants of inequalities in child undernutrition in Bangladesh: A decomposition analysis. Maternal & child nutrition, 14(1), e12440. Lentz, E. C. (2018). Complicating narratives of women’s food and nutrition insecurity: Domestic violence in rural Bangladesh. World Development, 104, 271-280....