Birth Interval and its Association with adverse Childhood Nutritional outcomes among under-Five Children in Bangladesh: A Longitudinal Study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v41i3.33562

Keywords:

Birth interval, childhood nutrition, stunting, underweight, logistic regression

Abstract

Introduction: Short birth spacing is reported to have health consequences for both mother and child. This study aims is to examine the effect of short birth interval on nutritional outcomes of under-five children in Bangladesh.

Methods:We used data from the latest five rounds of Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys conducted from 2004 to 2017-18. The short birth interval is defined as birth spacing of <24 months and 24-35 months between two subsequent births. The outcomes of interest are stunting and underweight. Both bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses were employed. Results of the multivariate analysis are shown by odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Data were analyzed by Stata 15/IC.

Results: A total of 16,100 under-five children of second and higher-order births were included for analysis. Of the children, 12% were born at a space of <24 months, and 19% were born with a space of 24-35 months. The proportion of children with short birth interval was found decreasing. Results of the logistic regression analysis show thatcompared to the birth interval of 36-59 months children born to women with birth interval <24 months were significantly (P<0.001) at higher risk of being stunted (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.27, 1.57) and underweight (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.27, 1.58). A similar result was obtained for the birth interval of 24-35 months.

Conclusion: Short birth interval remains a problem of childhood nutrition in Bangladesh. Research to explore causal pathways and programs to lengthen space between inter-pregnancy should be intensified.

Keywords: Birth interval, childhood nutrition, stunting, underweight, logistic regression

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Author Biographies

SM Mostafa Kamal, Department of Mathematics, Islamic University, Bangladesh

Department of Mathematics

Associate Professor

 

Md Moniruzzaman, Department of Mathematics, Islamic University, Bangladesh

Dr Md. Moniruzzaman Professor Department of Geography and Environmental Studies University of Rajshahi Rajshahi - 6205 Bangladesh

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Published

2021-12-31

How to Cite

Kamal, S. M., & Moniruzzaman, M. (2021). Birth Interval and its Association with adverse Childhood Nutritional outcomes among under-Five Children in Bangladesh: A Longitudinal Study. Journal of Nepal Paediatric Society, 41(3), 327–335. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v41i3.33562

Issue

Vol. 41 No. 3 (2021)

Section

Original Articles

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Copyright (c) 2021 SM Mostafa Kamal, Md Moniruzzaman

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