Socio-economic and Demographic

determinants of double burden of

malnutrition among mother-child
pairs in Bangladesh

Introduction :

Malnutrition continues to pose an important challenge around the world,

specifically among disadvantaged populations like mother-child pairs in
developing nations like Bangladesh. The twofold risk of malnutrition (DBM),
which may take place as a consequence of both undernutrition and
overnutrition, constitutes one of the various ways that malnutrition may
manifest itself. The DBM poses an existential threat to the health and
development of individuals and communities, given that it is marked by the
coexistence of undernutrition (stunting, wasting) and overnutrition (overweight,
obesity) in the same population. Studying the socioeconomic and demographic
factors that lead to the double burden of malnutrition among mother-child
couples in Bangladesh is the objective of this study. Policymakers and
stakeholders can initiate targeted campaigns that mitigate the detrimental effects
of malnutrition and encourage better outcomes by being aware of the causes.

Literature Reviews :

It has become widely understood that the double burden of malnutrition is a

complex public health challenge with a lifelong impact on mother and child
health. The number of cases and patterns of the double burden of malnutrition
among mother-child couples are strongly affected by socioeconomic and
demographic variables, according to studies.

• Socio-economic Determinants: It has been proven that socio-economic

variables, such as household income, mother education, and occupation,
 are powerful indicators of the double burden of malnutrition. Rahman et
al.'s (2018) study found that households of a lower socioeconomic level
were more prone to experiencing simultaneous undernutrition and
overnutrition. The lack of diversified and nourishing choices for nutrition,
combined with inadequate medical care, holds poor communities in this
cycle of malnutrition.
• Demographic Factors: Household setup, family size, and the presence
of urban and rural areas are important demographic variables that affect
the double burden of malnutrition. Studies by Akombi et al. (2020)
revealed the greater possibility of encountering the double burden in
urban areas as a result of altered food habits and lowered levels of
physical activity. Additionally, maintaining a large family may put
pressure on resources, which leads to moms' and kids' nutrition being
disrupted. A number of studies have examined the variables that affect
maternal healthcare-seeking behavior and the reasons for institutional
delivery in low- and middle-income nations. The studies discovered a
number of significant factors in the context of Bangladesh.
• Maternal Health and Nutrition: Maternal factors that contribute to the
double burden involve maternal nutritional status, age at marriage, and
parity. The risk of coexisting malnutrition is worsened by early marriage
and recurred pregnancies, which can have a detrimental effect on child
health and inadequate maternal nutrition.
• Food Security and Dietary Patterns: Dietary Patterns and Food
Security: Access to sufficient, nutritious food is an essential variable in
the double burden. Forkert et al.'s (2019) research highlighted that
households encountering food hardship are more vulnerable to turning to
nutrient-poor, high-energy diets, which could result in overweight moms
and undernourished children.
• Healthcare access and usage: The dual burden of malnutrition is closely
connected to inequalities in healthcare access and utilization. The most
favorable results for mother and child health might be compromised by
inadequate access to prenatal medical services, postnatal medical
services, and nutrition-related counseling. The factors that influence
maternal healthcare seeking behavior and the reasons for institutional
delivery in low- and middle-income countries have been the focus of
several studies. Several important issues related to Bangladesh have been
emphasized in the literature.
References :

1.Rahman, M. M., Howlader, T., Masud, M. S., Rahman, M. L., Islam, M. N.,
& Rahman, M. A. (2018). Prevalence of malnutrition among under-five children
and maternal nutritional status in Bangladesh: Evidence from a nationwide
survey. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 39(2), 247-260.
2.Akter, S., Roy, S. K., Thakur, S. K., Sarker, M., & Rahman, M. (2019).
Association between maternal education and malnutrition among under-five
children in urban slum areas in Bangladesh. Journal of Health, Population, and
Nutrition, 38(1), 1-10.
3.Kabir, I., Khanam, M., Agho, K. E., Mihrshahi, S., Dibley, M. J., & Roy, S.
K. (2020). Double burden of malnutrition: A burgeoning public health concern
in Bangladesh. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 112(6), 1473-1483.
4.Ahmed, T., Hossain, M., Sanin, K. I., & de Pee, S. (2021). Household food
insecurity and the double burden of malnutrition among mothers and children in
rural Bangladesh. Public Health Nutrition, 24(4), 950-959.
5.Chowdhury, M. A. H., Rahman, M. S., Sharmin, S., Rahman, M. M., Mondal,
P., Rahman, M. M., & Ahmed, K. T. (2022). Demographic factors and the
double burden of malnutrition among mother-child pairs in Bangladesh: A
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6.Khan, A. N. S., Ahsan, H. N., & Islam, M. R. (2023). Urbanization and the
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7.Hossain, M., Islam, M. A., Khan, M. R., Rahman, M., & Islam, R. (2023).
Maternal employment and child nutrition outcomes in Bangladesh: A cross-
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