Economic disparity and child nutrition in Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the economic difference in nutrition of under-five children. METHODS: Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey data 1999-2000 were used for this study. In this study, quintiles were calculated on the basis of asset and wealth score by use of principal component analysis. To understand the nutrition status and health inequality concentration index was also calculated. RESULTS: The ratio of poorest to the richest indicates that stunting and underweight of the rural under-five children was almost two times higher than that of the richest children. The negative concentration index shows that higher rate of malnutrition among the under-five children from the poorest class. This inequality in health situation of the children can be explained in terms of income inequality. In Bangladesh, about 40% wealth is concentrated to 10% of the families. The results are discussed in terms of policy consideration. CONCLUSION: It is expected that the findings will lead to consider alternative program strategies for the reduction of poor nutritional status of the children and their mothers.

Duration of breast-feeding in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: The duration of exclusive breast-feeding in Bangladesh is low. Though several studies have been carried out on breast-feeding in Bangladesh, the factors influencing the duration of breast-feeding are not studied. The purpose of this study was to assess the duration of breast-feeding among children in Bangladesh and to study socio-economic and demographic factors affecting the duration. METHODS: The study included 5068 mother-child pairs, selected on the basis of Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS) of 1999-2000. The risk of giving supplementary food at different ages was estimated by life table survival method. Independent effects of total duration of breast-feeding of each of the study variables were estimated by using Cox's regression model. RESULTS: The median duration of full breast-feeding was 3.67 months whereas mean and median durations of total breast-feeding was 31.3 and 30 months respectively. Life table analysis showed that 69.9 per cent women gave supplementary food to their babies before reaching six months of age. Cox's regression analysis revealed that women who had lived in rural areas were less likely to terminate breast-feeding than those living in urban areas. Women who had completed at least secondary education were more likely to stop breast-feeding than less or uneducated mothers. Children born in high economic status families had higher risk of stopping breast-feeding compared to those in low economic status families. Further, the deliveries assisted by the relatives had lower risk of terminating breastfeeding than by the health professionals. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: According to the study results, women with higher education, high economic level, lower birth interval and delivery assisted by health personnel had lower duration of breastfeeding. Future breast-feeding programme in Bangladesh should give special attention to these women since they breast-feed relatively shorter periods of time.

Exclusive breastfeeding and nutritional status in Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of the study were to assess exclusive breastfeeding practice and examine the factors effect on nutritional status of children from 0 to 24 months age. METHOD: Data from a national survey entitled "Surveillance on Breastfeeding and Weaning Situation and Child and Maternal Health in Bangladesh" were used to investigate the exclusive breastfeeding practice and to examine the factors having influence on child nutrition. Information was collected from mothers of 2781 children between 0 and 24 months of age. RESULTS: It was that 16% of women still exclusively breastfed their children for less than 6 months. Of the children 38.1% were stunted and 38% were under weight for their age. Overall, 46% of children were suffering from diseases. Bivariate analysis showed that maternal education and family income were important correlates of exclusive breastfeeding (Chi-square p<0.001). Exclusively breastfed children were nutritionally better off (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that the children of illiterate women were nutritionally more vulnerable than children of women who had secondary and higher education (OR=1.69, 95% CI=1.33-2.15). The children of older age women were less likely to be stunted than children of younger age women (OR=0.78, 95% CI=0.64-0.96). CONCLUSION: Despite efforts of different government agencies and NGOs, exclusive breastfeeding rate was still low in Bangladesh. Traditional cultural barriers still exist. In order to remove the harmful cultural beliefs and to spread the messages of the benefit of exclusive breastfeeding for survival and nutritional status of the children more behaviour change communication should be made to promote, protect and support breastfeeding.