Determinants of age-specific undernutrition in children aged less than 2 years-the Bangladesh context

Household food insecurity, dietary diversity with undernutrition among children younger than five years in Indian subcontinent-a narrative review

The emerging predictors of childhood undernutrition include household food insecurity (HFI) and inadequate diet diversity (DD). Geographical, socio-cultural, economic, and demographic factors contribute to HFI. Earlier, HFI was often considered an outcome of hunger and poverty leading to undernutrition. The increasing availability of data related to childhood DD and its direct association with undernutrition indicates that DD could mediate the relationship between HFI and undernutrition. This narrative review examined the association of HFI and/or DD with undernutrition in children younger than 5 years in the Indian subcontinent; and the current programmes and policies. The current evidence showed a possible association between HFI and DD either independently or together with childhood undernutrition. Until now, nutrition-specific interventions to address moderate and severe forms of undernutrition were focused, with a limited attention on nutrition-sensitive approaches to improve HFI and DD. Interventions which improve HFI and DD may be included in the existing programmes and would help address the undernutrition in children younger than 5 years.

A systematic review of the relationship between household food insecurity and childhood undernutrition

BACKGROUND

This systematic review aims to investigate the association between household food insecurity (HFIS) and undernutrition in children under 5 years old, thereby informing policymakers on the vital factors needed to be considered in tailoring an effective strategy to tackle childhood undernutrition and ultimately HFIS.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review that examined household food insecurity among the undernourished under-five children. PubMed, Cochrane, EBSCO Host, Web of Science and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched from 1 January 2012 to 1 April 2022, for relevant articles. Outcome measures were stunting, underweight or wasting. Of the 2779 abstracts screened, 36 studies that fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. A range of tools had been used to measure HFIS, the most common being Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. HFIS has been found to be significantly associated with undernutrition, particularly stunting and underweight. This is observed proportionately across all national income levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Sustainable and inclusive economic growth, which aims to reduce income, education and gender inequality, should be a key policy goal in the minimizing food insecurity and childhood undernutrition. Multisectoral interventions are needed to address these issues.

A predictive modelling approach to illustrate factors correlating with stunting among children aged 12-23 months: a cluster randomised pre-post study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to construct a predictive model in order to develop an intervention study to reduce the prevalence of stunting among children aged 12-23 months.

DESIGN

The study followed a cluster randomised pre-post design and measured the impacts on various indicators of livelihood, health and nutrition. The study was based on a large dataset collected from two cross-sectional studies (baseline and endline).

SETTING

The study was conducted in the north-eastern region of Bangladesh under the Sylhet division, which is vulnerable to both natural disasters and poverty. The study specifically targeted children between the ages of 12 and 23 months.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Childhood stunting, defined as a length-for-age z-score <-2, was the outcome variable in this study. Logistic and probit regression models and a decision tree were constructed to predict the factors associated with childhood stunting. The predictive performance of the models was evaluated by computing the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

The baseline survey showed a prevalence of 52.7% stunting, while 50.0% were stunted at endline. Several factors were found to be associated with childhood stunting. The model's sensitivity was 61% and specificity was 56%, with a correctly classified rate of 59% and an area under the ROC curve of 0.615.

CONCLUSION

The study found that childhood stunting in the study area was correlated with several factors, including maternal nutrition and education, food insecurity and hygiene practices. Despite efforts to address these factors, they remain largely unchanged. The study suggests that a more effective approach may be developed in future to target adolescent mothers, as maternal nutrition and education are age-dependent variables. Policy makers and programme planners need to consider incorporating both nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific activities and enhancing collaboration in their efforts to improve the health of vulnerable rural populations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

RIDIE-STUDY-ID-5d5678361809b.

Determinants of undernutrition among young children in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa with the highest burden of childhood undernutrition. Despite the high burden of this scourge, little is known about the magnitude and contributing determinants to anthropometric failure among children aged 0-23 months, a period regarded as the best window of opportunity for interventions against undernutrition. This study examined factors associated with undernutrition (stunting, wasting, and underweight) among Ethiopian children aged 0-23 months. This study used a total weighted sample of 2146 children aged 0-23 months from the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey. The data were cleaned and weighted using STATA version 14.0. Height-for-age (HFA), weight-for-height (WFH), and weight-for-age (WFA) z-scores <  - 2 SD were calculated and classified as stunted, wasting, and underweight, respectively. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models adjusted for cluster and survey weights were used. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated. Statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05. The overall weighted prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight respectively were 27.21% [95% CI (25.32-29.18)], 7.80% [95% CI (6.71-9.03)], and 16.44% [95% CI (14.90-18.09)] among children aged 0-23 months in Ethiopia. Female children were less likely to be associated with stunting [AOR: 0.68, 95% CI (0.54-0.86)], wasting [AOR: 0.70, 95% CI (0.51, 0.98)], and underweight [AOR: 0.64, 95% CI (0.49, 0.83)] than their male counterparts. Conversely, older children aged 12-17 months [AOR: 2.22, 95% CI (1.52, 3.23)] and 18-23 months [AOR: 4.16, 95% CI (2.75, 6.27)] were significantly at an increased odds of becoming stunted. Similarly, the likelihood of being underweight was higher in older age groups: 6-11 months [AOR: 1.74, 95% CI (1.15, 2.63)], 12-17 months [AOR: 2.13, 95% CI (1.40, 3.24)], and 18-23 months [AOR: 4.08, 95% CI (2.58, 6.44)] compared with the children younger than 6 months. Lower wealth quintile was one of the other significant determinants of stunting and underweight. The study's findings indicated that the most consistent significant risk factors for undernutrition among children aged 0-23 months are: male sex, older age groups and lower wealth quintile. These findings emphasize the importance of strengthening nutrition-specific and sensitive interventions that address the immediate and underlying drivers of childhood undernutrition in early life, as well as targeting low-income households with male children, in order for Ethiopia to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1,2 and 3 by 2030.

Association of breastfeeding with undernutrition among children under 5 years of age in developing countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This meta-analysis was conducted to examine the association between breastfeeding and undernutrition among children under 5 years of age in developing countries.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted of datasets from Embase, CINHAL, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Indonesian databases to include eligible studies. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 3.0 statistical software was used to perform data entry and data analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted from each study or were calculated based on the reported number of cases and controls in each study. Random-effects models or fixed-effects models were used to demonstrate overall risk estimates. A moderator analysis was conducted to examine possible moderators explaining the heterogeneity across studies.

FINDINGS

In total, 33 studies were included which examined the association of breastfeeding with undernutrition. A random-effects model showed that breastfeeding had inverse correlations with overall undernutrition (OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.68, 0.99) and the stunting type of undernutrition (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.55, 0.95). A moderator analysis showed that studies which included exclusive breastfeeding and unclear birth weights had low risks of overall undernutrition (p < 0.05). Moreover, studies which included exclusive breastfeeding and adopted a case-control study design exhibited a low risk of the stunting type of undernutrition (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Providing breastfeeding or exclusive breastfeeding can benefit children under 5 years of age in developing countries reduce overall undernutrition and the stunting type of undernutrition.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Healthcare professionals should develop and implement suitable strategies to increase awareness regarding the importance of breastfeeding and enhance breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding adherence.

Does a child's mid-upper arm circumference-for-age z-score represent another nutritional indicator of childhood malnutrition status?

Child wasting is defined as a weight-for-height/length z-score (WLZ/WHZ) < -2, and this indicator of nutritional status is used worldwide. However, a precise measurement is required for the assessment of a child's nutritional status, which may not always be possible due to expensive instruments, especially in poor resource settings. In some instances, mid-upper arm circumference-for-age z-score (MUACZ) is also being used for screening purposes, which is a simple and useful nutritional indicator. The objective of this paper is to identify the optimal cut-off point for the MUACZ to identify wasted children, and also to determine if the same factors are associated with MUACZ and wasting. Data were derived from the Suchana evaluation data. The optimal cut-off value was estimated via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis using acute malnutrition as a gold standard with maximum sensitivity and specificity. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the associated factors with the MUACZ. Using the gold standard indicator of nonwasting (WLZ ≥ -2), a positive outcome, the optimal cut-off point for the MUACZ was -1.27. The area under the ROC curve was 0.88, indicating that the model had a power of 88% to differentiate between the positive and negative classes. It implies that a child's MUACZ was correlated with WLZ, and a MUACZ below -1.27 appeared to accurately identify wasting among children aged 3-23 months. MUACZ < -1.27 might be another useful indicator of childhood wasting than a WLZ < -2.

Food security status of Suchana-participating households in north-eastern rural Bangladesh

Despite achieving remarkable progress, food insecurity remains a major public health challenge in Bangladesh, and severe food insecurity status has not been reduced in susceptible areas and vulnerable regions in Bangladesh. Wetlands that are susceptible to flooding can be found in Bangladesh's north-eastern Sylhet division. Suchana, a large-scale nutrition programme, implemented nutrition-specific and sensitive interventions in poor and very poor households in Sylhet and Moulvibazar districts in the north-eastern region of Bangladesh. The aim of this article is to assess the association between the Suchana intervention and household food security status among poor and very poor households in north-eastern rural Bangladesh using the Suchana baseline and endline survey databases. The baseline survey was conducted between November 2016 and February 2017, while the endline survey was undertaken 3 years later, during the same months. The outcome variable in this analysis was household food security status, which was measured using the Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance's Guideline. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data; after controlling for the union as a cluster and relevant covariates, a multiple multinomial logistic regression model was used to estimate the independent effect of the Suchana intervention as an exposure. Overall, 14.0% of households were food secure at the baseline survey (intervention: 14.1%, control: 14.0%) and 22.0% were food secure (intervention: 26.6%, control: 20.2%) at the endline survey. For households in the intervention area in comparison to the control area, the odds of being moderately food insecure [aOR: 1.36 (1.05, 1.76), p < 0.05], mildly food insecure [aOR: 1.83 (1.33, 2.51), p < 0.001], or food secure [aOR: 2.21 (1.47, 3.33), p < 0.001] compared to being severely food insecure was significantly higher. Thus, we infer that the 3 years of Suchana intervention marginally increased household food security status among the socio-economically disadvantaged population in north-eastern rural Bangladesh. If concerns regarding gender equity, women's education, and income-generating activities are addressed, the population could experience even greater benefits in food security. In order to overcome these challenges, all stakeholders including programme implementers and policymakers should work together to implement the appropriate measures.

Age heterogeneities in child growth and its associated socio-demographic factors: a cross-sectional study in India

BACKGROUND

The impacts of socio-demographic and environmental risk factors on child growth have been widely documented. However, it remains unclear whether the impacts of such risk factors on child growth have remained static or changed with child's age. The present study aims to assess the underlying age heterogeneities in child growth and its potential determinants over age in under-five children.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data on child height (measured as height-for-age z-score, i.e., HAZ) and weight (measured as weight-for-age z-score, i.e., WAZ) and potential confounding factors from India's 2015-16 National Family Health Survey (NFHS) were used to construct anthropometric age-profiles by a number of bio-demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Further, age-interacted multilevel regression analyses were performed to examine differential effects of such/those risk factors on child height and weight by age.

RESULTS

Faltered height and weight growth during first two years of life was noticed in children of all socioeconomic groups studied, albeit with varying magnitude. In case of child's height, factors such as short birth interval, higher birth order, maternal education, household wealth, district level mortality rate have shown strong interaction with child's age during the first 23 months, signifying their age-varying role in different developmental stages of child growth. These factors explain the observed upward and downward shifts in height curve during first two years. Some of these variables (e.g., household wealth) have shown even stronger age interactions after the second birthday of children. For child's weight, interactive effects of most socio-demographic risk factors attenuated parabolically with child's age.

CONCLUSIONS

The impacts of several risk factors, measured at the child, mother, community, and district levels, on child growth indicators varied significantly with the child's age. Nutritional interventions aimed at preventing poor linear growth in children in India should consider these underlying age heterogeneities for growth determinants into account.

The Burden of Undernutrition and Its Associated Factors Among Children Below 5 Years of Age in Bambao Region, Comoros

Background

Undernutrition remains a major public health problem in low- and middle-income countries and Comoros is no exception. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and identify the risk factors of undernutrition among children under-five years in Bambao region, Comoros.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Bambao region among 837 under-five years and their caregivers. Analyses were conducted using both descriptive and logistic regression to examine the magnitude and factors associated with stunting, wasting and underweight.

Results

Prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight were 21.6, 13.7, and 13.6% respectively. Factors associated with stunting were caregiver's secondary education level compared to no education (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.04–3.43, P < 0.04), age of child between 13–24 months compared to 0–12 months (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.44–5.01, P < 0.001), and food insecurity (AOR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.20–5.41, P < 0.02). Children aged 25–59 months were 78% less likely to have wasting compared to those with 0–12 months (AOR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.10–0.51, P < 0.001). Wasting was also associated with food insecurity (AOR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.12–6.49, P < 0.03), and low birthweight (AOR = 3.21, 95% CI: 1.73–5.94, P < 0.001). Children aged between 25–59 months were 86% less likely to have underweight compared to those aged 0–12 months (AOR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06–0.36, P < 0.001). Food insecurity (AOR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.08–6.54, P < 0.03), low birthweight (AOR = 3.15, 95% CI: 1.67–5.93, P < 0.001), and non-exclusively breastfeeding (AOR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.15–4.90, P < 0.02) were also associated with underweight.

Conclusion

More than one in five children under-five is stunted in Bambao region, Comoros. Moreover, more than 13% are underweight or wasted calling for streamlined efforts to address poor feeding practices, food insecurity, low birthweight, and socio-demographic disadvantages in this and other areas with similar context.

Gender differences in nutritional status and determinants among infants (6–11 m): a cross-sectional study in two regions in Ethiopia

Background

A limited number of studies suggest that boys may have a higher risk of stunting than girls in low-income countries. Little is known about the causes of these gender differences. The objective of the study was to assess gender differences in nutritional status and its determinants among infants in Ethiopia.

Methods

We analyzed data for 2036 children (6–11 months old) collected as the baseline for a multiple micronutrient powders effectiveness study in two regions of Ethiopia in March–April 2015. Child, mother, and household characteristics were investigated as determinants of stunting and wasting. Multiple logistic regression models were used separately for boys and girls to check for gender differences while adjusting for confounders. The study is registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ with the clinical trials identifier of NCT02479815.

Results

Stunting and wasting prevalence is significantly higher among boys compared to girls, 18.7 vs 10.7% and 7.9 vs 5.4%, respectively. Untimely initiation of breastfeeding, not-exclusive breastfeeding at the age of 6 months, region of residence, and low maternal education are significant predictors of stunting in boys. Untimely introduction to complementary food and low consumption of legumes/nuts are significant predictors of stunting in both boys and girls, and low egg consumption only in girls. Region of residence and age of the mother are significant determinants of wasting in both sexes. Analysis of interaction terms for stunting, however, shows no differences in predictors between boys and girls; only for untimely initiation of breastfeeding do the results for boys (OR 1.46; 95%CI 1.02,2.08) and girls (OR 0.88; 95%CI 0.55,1.41) tend to be different (p = 0.12).

Conclusion

In Ethiopia, boys are more malnourished than girls. Exclusive breastfeeding and adequate dietary diversity of complementary feeding are important determinants of stunting in boys and girls. There are no clear gender interactions for the main determinants of stunting and wasting. These findings suggest that appropriate gender-sensitive guidance on optimum infant and young child feeding practices is needed.

The large-scale community-based programme 'Suchana' improved maternal healthcare practices in north-eastern Bangladesh: Findings from a cluster randomized pre-post study

Adequate maternal healthcare practices are crucial to both maternal and infant nutrition outcomes. The Sylhet region of Bangladesh is vulnerable and performs poorly, as maternal and child health indicators are falling behind compared to other areas. Suchana, a large-scale intervention programme aims to improve the health and nutritional status of mothers and children in this region. The objective of the present analysis is to assess the changes in indicators related to maternal healthcare practices among Suchana beneficiaries. We obtained data from the Suchana baseline and endline evaluation survey. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize data. The following maternal healthcare practices were considered: if a Suchana beneficiary mother received antenatal care (ANC) from skilled service providers, took day time resting during pregnancy, consumed additional diet during pregnancy, took at least 100 iron-folic acid (IFA) tablets during pregnancy and took a vitamin A capsule after delivery. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the impact of the Suchana intervention on maternal healthcare practices. The prevalence of the outcome variables at endline in the intervention area were as follows: 40% of mothers received at least four ANC from skilled service providers, 50% practiced daytime resting during pregnancy, 51% consumed additional diet during pregnancy, 41% took at least 100 iron-folic acid tablets during pregnancy, 39% received postnatal care and 30% took a vitamin A capsule after delivery. The Suchana intervention significantly, positively improved indicators related to maternal healthcare practices; these findings support future larger-scale programmes to improve maternal healthcare practices among vulnerable people in rural Bangladesh.

Determinants of maternal low mid-upper arm circumference and its association with child nutritional status among poor and very poor households in rural Bangladesh

Malnutrition among women is a long-standing public health concern that has significant adverse consequences on the survival and healthy development of children. Maternal mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) could potentially represent a simpler alternative to traditional nutritional indicators. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with low maternal MUAC (as an indicator of being underweight) and address the research question of whether maternal MUAC is significantly associated with children's nutritional status among poor and very poor households in rural Bangladesh. Data on 5,069 households were extracted from the Suchana programme baseline survey, which was carried out in 80 randomly selected unions (the lowest administrative unit of Bangladesh) in Sylhet and Moulvibazar districts between November 2016 and February 2017. The outcome variables were three child nutritional status indicators: wasting, stunting and underweight. Mothers were classified as underweight if their MUAC was less than 23 cm. Separate multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the factors potentially associated with maternal underweight status and explore whether maternal underweight status is significantly associated with children's nutritional status. The prevalence of maternal underweight status was 46.7%, and the prevalence of wasting, stunting and underweight among children under two were 10.5%, 44.4% and 31.9%, respectively. After controlling for various socio-economic and demographic characteristics, maternal MUAC was significantly associated with children's nutritional status in rural Bangladesh.

The Association of Feeding Practices and Sociodemographic Factors on Underweight and Wasting in Children in Ethiopia: A Secondary Analysis of Four Health Surveys from 2000 to 2016

BACKGROUND

Feeding practices highly influence the nutritional status of children between 6 and 23 months of age in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the association of feeding practices and sociodemographic factors on underweight and wasting of children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia.

METHODS

Data on 8003 children 6-23 months of age from four Ethiopia demographic and health surveys (EDHS) from 2000 to 2016 were analyzed using complex sample crosstabs for multivariate analysis. The association of feeding practices and sociodemographic factors on underweight and wasting was assessed via multiple logistic regression analyses adjusting the covariates. The outcomes were reported based on the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

Male children, very small at birth size children, diarrhea and fever, and short stature mother were risk factors for underweight and wasting (p < 0.05-0.001). Also, minimum dietary diversity, rich and middle-income families, vitamin A in the previous 6 months and antenatal care visits during pregnancy were protective factors for both underweight and wasting (p < 0.05-0.001). Minimum meal frequency was significantly related to lower odds of wasting (p < 0.001). Higher age of the child was significantly associated with underweight (p < 0.05-0.001); however, it was less likely wasted (p < 0.05-0.01).

CONCLUSION

The present study depicted that among infant young children feeding core indicators except breastfed, all the other indicators did not met the required standard; however, sociodemographic factors on four health surveys from 2000 to 2016 were associated with underweight and wasting in children in Ethiopia.

LAY SUMMARY

• Over the years the prevalence of underweight in children aged 6-23 months in the country has shown a significant improvement from 40.2% in 2000 to 34.7% in 2005, then further reduced to 28.9% and 20.0% in 2011 and 2016 EDHS, respectively.• In the same manner, the prevalence of wasting in children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia also observed improvement from 18.9% in 2000 to 16.7% in 2005, then further reduced to 15.4% and 13.9% in 2011 and 2016 EDHS, respectively.• Male children, very small at birth size children, diarrhea and fever (for the last 2 weeks), and short stature mother were risk factors for underweight and wasting.• Minimum dietary diversity, rich and middle-income families, vitamin A in the previous 6 months and antenatal care visits during pregnancy were protective factors for both underweight and wasting.• Minimum meal frequency was significantly related to lower odds of wasting.• Higher age of the children was significantly associated with underweight; however, less likely wasted.

Boys are more likely to be undernourished than girls: a systematic review and meta-analysis of sex differences in undernutrition

BACKGROUND

Excess male morbidity and mortality is well recognised in neonatal medicine and infant health. In contrast, within global nutrition, it is commonly assumed that girls are more at risk of experiencing undernutrition. We aimed to explore evidence for any male/female differences in child undernutrition using anthropometric case definitions and the reasons for differences observed.

METHODS

We searched: Medline, Embase, Global health, Popline and Cochrane databases with no time limits applied. Eligible studies focused on children aged 0-59 months affected by undernutrition where sex was reported. In the meta-analysis, undernutrition-specific estimates were examined separately for wasting, stunting and underweight using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

74 studies were identified: 44/74 studies were included in the meta-analysis. In 20 which examined wasting, boys had higher odds of being wasted than girls (pooled OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.40). 38 examined stunting: boys had higher odds of stunting than girls (pooled OR 1.29 95% CI 1.22 to 1.37). 23 explored underweight: boys had higher odds of being underweight than girls (pooled OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.26). There was some limited evidence that the female advantage, indicated by a lower risk of stunting and underweight, was weaker in South Asia than other parts of the world. 43/74 (58%) studies discussed possible reasons for boy/girl differences; 10/74 (14%) cited studies with similar findings with no further discussion; 21/74 (28%) had no sex difference discussion. 6/43 studies (14%) postulated biological causes, 21/43 (49%) social causes and 16/43 (37%) to a combination.

CONCLUSION

Our review indicates that undernutrition in children under 5 is more likely to affect boys than girls, though the magnitude of these differences varies and is more pronounced in some contexts than others. Future research should further explore reasons for these differences and implications for nutrition policy and practice.

What Were the Drivers of Improving Child Nutritional Status in Bangladesh? An Analysis of National Household Data from 1992 to 2005 Guided by the UNICEF Framework

BACKGROUND

Bangladesh has experienced rapid reductions in child undernutrition and poverty, increases in maternal education, and dietary change over the past 3 decades.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to quantify the determinants of the improvement in child nutritional status among preschool-aged children in Bangladesh from 1992 to 2005.

METHODS

We utilized data from 4 rounds of 2 linked and seasonally balanced survey systems: the Bangladesh Household [Income and] Expenditure Surveys (H[I]ES) and the Child [and Mother] Nutrition Survey (C[M]NS). We analyzed 10,780 children aged 6-59 mo, divided into 2 age groups (6-23 mo and 24-59 mo). We used Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition to assess the impact of changing determinants on nutritional status over time, guided by the UNICEF conceptual framework for the causes of child malnutrition.

RESULTS

There were significant improvements in child growth over time for all z-score measures-length/height-for-age (LAZ/HAZ), weight-for-length/height (WLZ/WHZ), and weight-for-age (WAZ)-and in many potential determinants of child growth across domains of the UNICEF framework. Among younger children, decomposition explained 67% of the observed change in LAZ, 130% of WLZ, and 73% of WAZ. Among older children, decomposition explained 41% of the observed change in HAZ and 36% of WAZ. Drivers varied, with improvements in care of children as the only driver in both age groups and for all growth measures. Declines in disease prevalence drove improvements in weight-based measures. For younger children, household diets and household environments were significant drivers of improvement in LAZ and WAZ. For older children, increasing income was the largest driver of HAZ and WAZ.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing income did not independently drive improvements for younger children but drove improved growth among children aged 2-4 y. This points to the need to focus on nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions to decrease child undernutrition in the vulnerable first 1000 days of life.

Determinants of stunting during the first 1,000 days of life in Bangladesh: A review

Stunting is a major problem in Bangladesh, with a prevalence of 31% in 2017. The prevalence of stunting in children aged under two has reduced by only 6% since 2004. After children reach 2 years of age, the consequences of stunting become almost irreversible. This paper seeks to examine and analyze the determinants associated with stunting during the first 1,000 days of life in Bangladesh to assist in developing evidence-based interventions in Bangladesh. A literature review was conducted comprehensively on all relevant peer-reviewed and gray literature of studies conducted in Bangladesh. The existing literature was searched and examined using the World Health Organization (WHO) conceptual framework for stunting. Evidence indicates that low maternal weight, lack of maternal education, severe food insecurity, lack of access to suitable nutrition, nonexclusive breastfeeding, pathogen-specific diarrhea, and low weight and height at birth are associated with early childhood stunting in Bangladesh. The relation of the quality of drinking water with stunting is not clear in Bangladesh. Literature about the association between stunting and determinants such as the political economy, education systems, and agriculture and food systems is not found. This synthesis shows that the factors of stunting are multifaceted. As such, a multi-sectoral approach is essential in Bangladesh, employing evidence-based interventions to address the determinants that contribute to the risk of stunting to achieve the global nutrition target by 2025.

Factors associated with stunting and wasting in children under 2 years in Bangladesh

Child undernutrition has been a major concern for Bangladesh as it is amongst the highest stunting and wasting prevalent countries in the world. The objective of our study was to explore the socioeconomic determinants of stunting and wasting in children under two years. This study explored nationally representative sample of 7,230 children ranging in age from 0 to <24 months using two separate binary logistic regression models to determine the risk factors associated with child stunting and wasting. Our study estimated approximately 33 percent children to be stunted and 11 percent to be wasted. Our analysis found that, 12 to <24 months old children's height-for-age-z-score and weight-for-height-z-score deteriorated in comparison to those of below 6 months. Female children had significantly lower odds of stunting and wasting compared with male children. Study revealed that children from wealthier families were at lower risk of being stunted and wasted compared to children from poorer households. Parental education was determined as a significant predictor of stunting. Children who lived in Sylhet division were 1.26 times more likely to be stunted than the children of Dhaka division [OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.02-1.55]. Our study revealed age, gender, geographic distribution, and household's position in wealth index as common determinants of child stunting and wasting in Bangladesh. While parental education was significant predictor for child stunting, type of toilet facility was found as statistically significant determinant of child wasting in children of less than two years age.

Factors associated with moderate wasting among marginalized 6 to 23-month aged children in Bangladesh: Findings of the Suchana program baseline survey data

Suchana-a large-scale, 7-year nutrition program that started in 2015-is being implemented in 250,000 households in the marginalized segment in north-east Bangladesh, with the aim of improving childhood nutrition status. Untreated childhood moderate wasting may develop to severe wasting, which is associated with a 10-fold higher risk of mortality compared to children of normal weight relative to height/length. Identifying the diverse, age-specific risk factors for moderate wasting may help such programs to formulate tailored interventions to prevent and treat childhood malnutrition in rural communities. The objective of this study was to identify the age-specific factors associated with moderate wasting among 6‒23-month-old children in beneficiary households. Cross-sectional data on 4,400 children was collected through systematic sampling between November 2016 and February 2017 using the Suchana beneficiary list. In total, 8.1% of 6‒11 month-olds and 10.3% of 12‒23 month-olds suffered moderate wasting; 12‒23-month-olds had a 1.3-fold higher risk of moderate wasting than 6‒11-month-olds. Our results of logistic regression models suggest that larger household size, higher maternal body mass index (BMI), and maternal food consumption status more than usual during the recent pregnancy were associated with a reduced risk of moderate wasting among 6‒11-month-olds. Higher maternal BMI, normal maternal food consumption status during last pregnancy, being female and maternal knowledge on diarrheal management, were associated with a reduced risk of moderate wasting among 12‒23-month-olds. In conclusion, beyond maternal BMI and maternal food consumption status during the last pregnancy, the factors associated with moderate wasting among 6‒23-month-olds in the poorest households in Bangladesh are age-specific.

Reducing childhood malnutrition in Bangladesh: the importance of addressing socio-economic inequalities

OBJECTIVE

To obtain projections of the prevalence of childhood malnutrition indicators up to 2030 and to analyse the changes of wealth-based inequality in malnutrition indicators and the degree of contribution of socio-economic determinants to the inequities in malnutrition indicators in Bangladesh. Additionally, to identify the risk factors of childhood malnutrition.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study. A Bayesian linear regression model was used to estimate trends and projections of malnutrition. For equity analysis, slope index, relative index and decomposition in concentration index were used. Multilevel logistic models were used to identify risk factors of malnutrition.

SETTING

Household surveys in Bangladesh from 1996 to 2014.

PARTICIPANTS

Children under the age of 5 years.

RESULTS

A decreasing trend was observed for all malnutrition indices. In 1990, predicted prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight was 55·0, 15·9 and 61·8 %, respectively. By 2030, prevalence is projected to reduce to 28·8 % for stunting, 12·3 % for wasting and 17·4 % for underweight. Prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight were 34·3, 6·9 and 32·8 percentage points lower in the richest households than the poorest households. Contribution of the wealth index to child malnutrition increased over time and the largest contribution of pro-poor inequity was explained by wealth index. Being an underweight mother, parents with a lower level of education and poorer households were the key risk factors for stunting and underweight.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings show an evidence-based need for targeted interventions to improve education and household income-generating activities among poor households to reduce inequalities and reduce the burden of child malnutrition in Bangladesh.

How socioeconomic status moderates the stunting-age relationship in low-income and middle-income countries

Introduction

Reducing stunting is an important part of the global health agenda. Despite likely changes in risk factors as children age, determinants of stunting are typically analysed without taking into account age-related heterogeneity. We aim to fill this gap by providing an in-depth analysis of the role of socioeconomic status (SES) as a moderator for the stunting-age pattern.

Methods

Epidemiological and socioeconomic data from 72 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) were used to calculate stunting-age patterns by SES quartiles, derived from an index of household assets. We further investigated how differences in age-specific stunting rates between children from rich and poor households are explained by determinants that could be modified by nutrition-specific versus nutrition-sensitive interventions.

Results

While stunting prevalence in the pooled sample of 72 DHS is low in children up to the age of 5 months (maximum prevalence of 17.8% (95% CI 16.4;19.3)), stunting rates in older children tend to exceed those of younger ones in the age bracket of 6–20 months. This pattern is more pronounced in the poorest than in the richest quartile, with large differences in stunting prevalence at 20 months (stunting rates: 40.7% (95% CI 39.5 to 41.8) in the full sample, 50.3% (95% CI 48.2 to 52.4) in the poorest quartile and 29.2% (95% CI 26.8 to 31.5) in the richest quartile). When adjusting for determinants related to nutrition-specific interventions only, SES-related differences decrease by up to 30.1%. Much stronger effects (up to 59.2%) occur when determinants related to nutrition-sensitive interventions are additionally included.

Conclusion

While differences between children from rich and poor households are small during the first 5 months of life, SES is an important moderator for age-specific stunting rates in older children. Determinants related to nutrition-specific interventions are not sufficient to explain these SES-related differences, which could imply that a multifactorial approach is needed to reduce age-specific stunting rates in the poorest children.

Maternal and Child Supplementation with Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements, but Not Child Supplementation Alone, Decreases Self-Reported Household Food Insecurity in Some Settings

Background: It is unknown whether self-reported measures of household food insecurity change in response to food-based nutrient supplementation.Objective: We assessed the impacts of providing lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNSs) to women during pregnancy and postpartum and/or to their children on self-reported household food insecurity in Malawi [DOSE and DYAD trial in Malawi (DYAD-M)], Ghana [DYAD trial in Ghana (DYAD-G)], and Bangladesh [Rang-Din Nutrition Study (RDNS) trial].Methods: Longitudinal household food-insecurity data were collected during 3 individually randomized trials and 1 cluster-randomized trial testing the efficacy or effectiveness of LNSs (generally 118 kcal/d). Seasonally adjusted Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) scores were constructed for 1127 DOSE households, 732 DYAD-M households, 1109 DYAD-G households, and 3671 RDNS households. The impact of providing LNSs to women during pregnancy and the first 6 mo postpartum and/or to their children from 6 to 18-24 mo on seasonally adjusted HFIAS scores was assessed by using negative binomial models (DOSE, DYAD-M, and DYAD-G trials) and mixed-effect negative binomial models (RDNS trial).Results: In the DOSE and DYAD-G trials, seasonally adjusted HFIAS scores were not different between the LNS and non-LNS groups. In the DYAD-M trial, the average household food-insecurity scores were 14% lower (P = 0.01) in LNS households than in non-LNS households. In the RDNS trial, compared with non-LNS households, food-insecurity scores were 17% lower (P = 0.02) during pregnancy and the first 6 mo postpartum and 15% lower (P = 0.02) at 6-24 mo postpartum in LNS households.Conclusions: The daily provision of LNSs to mothers and their children throughout much of the "first 1000 d" may improve household food security in some settings, which could be viewed as an additional benefit that may accrue in households should policy makers choose to invest in LNSs to promote child growth and development. These trials were registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00945698 (DOSE) NCT01239693 (DYAD-M), NCT00970866 (DYAD-G) and NCT01715038 (RDNS).

The effect of maternal and child factors on stunting, wasting and underweight among preschool children in Northern Ghana

Background

Undernutrition among preschool children in Northern region is the highest in Ghana. However, there is scarcity of data on the factors that determine undernutrition in these children. This study investigated the effect of maternal and child factors on undernutrition among preschool children in Northern Ghana.

Methods

This study was a community based analytical cross-sectional survey on a sample of 425 mother- child pairs drawn from 25 clusters. A semi- structured questionnaire was used to collect data on maternal and child socio-demographic characteristics, feeding practices and anthropometry. Anthropometric indices of Height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ), Weight-for-height Z-scores (WHZ) and Weight-for – age Z-scores (WAZ) were used to classify child stunting, wasting and underweight respectively. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine associations between explanatory variables and undernutrition.

Results

The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight were 28.2, 9.9 and 19.3% respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that, the odds of stunting was higher among male children [AOR = 1.99; 95% CI (1.26–3.13); p = 0.003], children of mothers less than 150 cm in height [AOR = 3.87; 95% CI (1.34–11.20); p = 0.01], mothers 155–159 cm tall [AOR = 2.21; 95% CI (1.34–3.66); p = 0.002], and older children aged 12–23 months [AOR 9.81; 95% CI (2.85–33.76); p < 0.001]. Wasting was significantly higher among male children [AOR = 2.40; 95% CI (1.189–4.844); p = 0.015], consumption of less than four food groups [AOR = 3.733; 95% CI (1.889–7.376); p < 0.001] and among children of underweight mothers [AOR = 3.897; 95% CI (1.404–10.820); p = 0.009]. Male children [AOR = 2.685; 95% CI (1.205–5.98); p = 0.016] and having low birth weight [AOR = 3.778; 95% CI (1.440–9.911); p < 0.001] were associated with higher odds of underweight in children.

Conclusion

Maternal height associated negatively with stunting but not wasting. Factors that affect low height –for-age z-score (HAZ) may not necessarily be the same as stunting. Infant and child feeding practices as measured by dietary diversity score associated positively with weight-for-height Z-scores than length-for-age Z-scores of young children. Surprisingly, consumption of some specific food groups including, animal source foods, legumes, staples and eggs were associated with lower HAZ but with increased likelihood of higher WHZ among children 6–59 months.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40795-017-0154-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Determinants of age-specific undernutrition in children aged less than 2 years-the Bangladesh context

Globally, undernutrition affects nearly half of all children aged less than 5 years. It is more prominent in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the age-specific risk factors for different categories of undernutrition among Bangladeshi children aged less than 2 years. Data of 10,291 children aged less than 2 years were collected between October 2011 to November 2013 through the Food Security Nutritional Surveillance Project in Bangladesh. Simple logistic regression established bivariate relationships between the categories of undernutrition and the relevant risk factors. Multiple logistic regression constructed the age-specific regression models depicting the independent association and effect size of the risk factors contributing to the various categories of undernutrition among study population. Stunting was prevalent among 30.9% of the study children, whereas 9.7% were wasted and 24.9% were underweight. Being a male child, increase in age, maternal body mass index and education, and household food insecurity were the strongest predictors for all categories of undernutrition in terms of effect size. Our study shows that the different categories of childhood undernutrition have different age-specific risk factors. Maternal body mass index and household food insecurity were the common age-specific risk factors for all categories of undernutrition. We expect our findings to enhance the existing evidence base for the risk factors of undernutrition among children aged less than 2 years.