Maternal health status and household food security on determining childhood anemia in Bangladesh -a nationwide cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background The aim of this study was to examine the effect of household food security on childhood anemia in Bangladesh while controlling for socioeconomic and demographic factors. Methods We used nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS) 2011 data for this study, the only existing survey including anemia information and household food security. The sample included 2171 children aged 6–59 months and their mothers. Differences between socioeconomic and demographic variables were analyzed using Chi-square test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the effects of different socioeconomic and demographic factors on childhood anemia. We also performed mediation analysis to examine the direct and indirect effect of household food security on childhood anemia. Results In Bangladesh, 53% male (95% CI: 50–56) and 51% female (95% CI: 47–54) children aged 6–59 months were anemic in 2011. The food insecure households have 1.20 times odds (95% CI: 0.97–1.48) of having anemic children comparing to food secure households in the unadjusted model. On the other hand, anemic mothers have 2 times odds (95% CI: 1.67–2.44) of having anemic children comparing to non-anemic mothers. However, household food security is no longer significantly associated with childhood anemia in the adjusted model while mothers’ anemia remained a significant factor (OR 1.87: 95% CI: 1.53–2.29). Age of children is the highest associated factor, and the odds are 4.89 (95% CI: 3.21–7.45) for 6–12 months old children comparing to 49–59 months in the adjusted model. Stunting and household wealth are also a significant factor for childhood anemia. Although food security has no significant direct effect on childhood anemia, maternal anemia and childhood stunting mediated that relationship. Conclusions Future public health policies need to focus on improving mothers’ health with focusing on household food security to eliminate childhood anemia.

Prevalence of Anemia among Children and Adolescents of Bangladesh: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Maternal anemia, wealth, education status, and body mass index (BMI) were found to be the key factors contributing to anemia in children (<5 years) according to the Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS) in 2011. In addition, children aged 6-12 months and 13-24 months showed a high prevalence (73.0%, and 70.0%, respectively) compared with children aged 49-59 months (38.0%) [47,48], which is consistent with our study, as toddlers depicted a 14.2% higher prevalence compared with the pooled prevalence between 6 months and 19 years. Lower maternal nutrition status, including anemia, makes children more vulnerable to stunting, wasting, and low birth weight.…”

Prevalence of and factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding in Bangladesh: a multilevel modelling

“…Household wealth status was classified into two categories: poor and non-poor. 30 The child's birthweight was categorised as low, normal, not weighted/don't know. The birthweight was considered low when it was <2500 g and normal when it was ≥2500 g. 31 The body mass index (BMI) of the mothers was classified as underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2) and obese (≥30.0 kg/m2).…”

Performance assessment Of Indian Spinach (Basella alba) as an Under Storey Crop in Aonla-Lemon Based Multistoried Agroforestry System Manuscript Draft

“…In addition, rapid urbanization, development of new housing for a rapidly growing population and new development projects decrease a significant proportion of agricultural land by 80,000 ha per year [11]- [13]. Moreover, 40 million people faces food insecurity, a significant number of children are affected by severe to acute malnutrition, about half of the women suffer from anemia and it costs US$ 16.78 per capita each year to lose productivity for malnutrition [14]. The country needs 13.25 million metric tons of vegetables per year, contrarily it produces 3.73 million metric tons only.…”