Child-sensitive water, sanitation, and hygiene composite score and its association with child nutritional outcomes in St. Martin’s Island, Bangladesh

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to outline water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices for children under 5 years of age among the households of St. Martin’s Island as well as examine the role of water, sanitation, and hygiene on child nutritional outcomes. Methods: A total of 256 children under 5 years of age were anthropometrically measured, and multiple linear regression was performed to understand the relationship between combined water, sanitation, and hygiene score and child nutritional outcomes: height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-height z-scores. Results: The majority of the sampled households had improved drinking water facilities. Over one-third of the participants (36.5%) did not have access to better sanitation, and 12.4% reported defecating in open places. Just over one-third of those surveyed reported washing their hands with soap or detergents after defecation, with more than 22% of people not having access to a handwashing station on their premises. Stunting, wasting, and underweight were found to be prevalent in 34.4%, 17.6%, and 18.9% of the sampled children, respectively. Height-for-age (0.08 SDs) and weight-for-age (0.014 SDs) were greater on average in children from households with improved water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions, but weight-for-height did not significantly differ from those from WASH-unimproved households. Conclusion: Certain aspects of WASH, particularly, sanitation facilities and hygiene practices were not up to the mark in St. Martin’s Island, and consistent with findings from other studies, our study findings underlined the potential benefits of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene practices in addressing child undernutrition.

Dietary diversity and micronutrients adequacy among the women of reproductive age at St. Martin’s island in Bangladesh

“…Recent studies on children under 5 years of age of St. Martin's island found a higher prevalence of stunting (34.4%), wasting (17.6%), and underweight (18.9%) among them [21,23]. They also highlighted that less than half of them (45.5%) consumed an adequately diverse diet [21]. As mentioned earlier, poor dietary practices of the women along with other factors lead to maternal malnutrition which can contribute to child malnutrition [11].…”

“…Moreover, women with decision-making role might have role in daily meal planning, expenditure on food, and meal distribution which contribute to both dietary diversity, and micronutrients adequacy. Recent studies on children under 5 years of age of St. Martin's island found a higher prevalence of stunting (34.4%), wasting (17.6%), and underweight (18.9%) among them [21,23]. They also highlighted that less than half of them (45.5%) consumed an adequately diverse diet [21].…”

“…However, recent studies explored household water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) condition, acute diarrhea, and the prevalence of malnutrition among children under 5 years of age. They highlighted 36.5% of the household without better sanitation, and about 1 in 4 children under 5 years of age (26.4%) having acute diarrhea [21,22]. They also reported child malnutrition in St. Martin's island with a high prevalence of stunting (34.4%), wasting (17.6%), underweight (18.9%) and 6.9% of the children as overweight [21,23].…”

“…They highlighted 36.5% of the household without better sanitation, and about 1 in 4 children under 5 years of age (26.4%) having acute diarrhea [21,22]. They also reported child malnutrition in St. Martin's island with a high prevalence of stunting (34.4%), wasting (17.6%), underweight (18.9%) and 6.9% of the children as overweight [21,23]. Along with some other factors, poor dietary practices of the women lead to maternal malnutrition which could contribute to child malnutrition (low birth weight, stunting, wasting, underweight, cognitive impairment etc.)…”

Environmental Sanitation at Home and History of Infection Diseases as Risk Factors for Stunting in Toddlers in Drokilo Village, Kedungadem District, Bojonegoro Regency

“…The households took water from wells for drinking although the water was not very clear. Drinking the well water is still safe when it is boiled first (17). Poor environmental sanitation occurs not only in Indonesia but also other parts of the world like in Bangladesh where latrine facilities were lacking and turned out causing decreased nutritional status of children such as stunting and wasting.…”