Prevalence and Determinants of Child Health and Nutritional Status in Selected Areas of Cumilla District in Bangladesh

Abstract

Child malnutrition is a great public health issue and for that reason adequate nutrition is identified as one of the pillars of
public health. This present study aimed to explore the extent of child malnutrition as well as factors associated with
undernutrition and Low Birth Weight (LBW) in Cumilla. A cross sectional study was conducted in selected areas of Cumilla
district in April,2019. In total 355 households were included in the study following inclusion criteria and 299 under five
children was assessed for anthropometry. SPSS (version 25) and WHO Anthro (version 3.3.2) was used for analytical
purpose. Prevalence of LBW was 18.6% and mean (SD) birth weight was 2.54 (0.78) kg. Important covariates for LBW
were uneducated mother (AOR = 1.32, p < 0.001), household food security (AOR = 0.81, p < 0.001) and intake of iron
tablet during pregnancy (AOR = 0.56, p < 0.05). Prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight, and overweight was 39.6%,
18.9%, 31.2%, and 7.5% respectively. Around 16% children were concurrently stunted and wasted, 18% were both stunted
and underweight and 14% were both wasted and underweight. Odds of being malnourished was higher among premature
babies (stunting: AOR = 1.24, p < 0.05; wasting: AOR = 1.66, p < 0.05; underweight: AOR = 1.37, p < 0.001). More than
83% children were exclusively breastfed; median duration of breastfeeding was 19.6 months and vaccination coverage were
87.9%. Both undernutrition and overnutrition prevalence among under-five children in Cumilla is quite high. Health
information strategies targeting young child feeding practices may be effective to minimize undernutrition quickly.