Are Mothers and Children Under Five in Bangladesh Nutritionally Secure? Evidence from a Long-term Panel Dataset

Malnutrition, including both undernutrition and overnutrition, affects both mothers and children, with insufficient or excessive caloric intake causing health issues. In Bangladesh, maternal nutrition, particularly pre-pregnancy and pregnancy health, plays a crucial role in pregnancy outcomes and child development. This study utilizes long-term panel data from the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS) for the years 2011, 2015, and 2018 to assess trends and determinants of nutritional outcomes. The analysis focuses on key indicators such as stunting, wasting, and underweight, examining their relationships with demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors. Outcomes reveal notable improvements in child nutrition over time, with reductions in stunting, wasting, and underweight prevalence. Height-for-age and weight-for-age Z-scores improved significantly between 2011 and 2018, indicating progress in combating chronic malnutrition. The findings of the study emphasize the importance of Parental Education. According to the study’s findings, policymakers might focus on issues such as parental education and improved household economic well-being, especially in areas like nutrition and food security. Strategies may be devised to enhance parental education and awareness to improve nutrition and mitigate malnutrition, as indicated by the study.

Keywords: Malnutrition; Maternal nutrition; Stunting; Wasting; Underweight; Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS).