Abstract Background: Undernutrition in children under 5 years of age is one of the most important measurements of assessing the excellence of human life as it confirms healthy growth in early childhood. The main objective of this study is to understand the potential patterns and factors of undernutrition in children under 5 years of age in Bangladesh from 2007 to 2017. Methods: Four cross-sectional rounds of data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (2007, 2011, 2014, and 2017) were used for this study. The ordinal logistic regression model was applied to explore the association between selected factors and undernutrition status (stunting, wasting, and underweight). Results: For stunting, the age of the child emerged as a significant factor. Between 2007 and 2017, older children (12–59 months) consistently exhibited a higher likelihood of severe stunting. In 2017, children aged 48–59 months had an odds ratio (OR) of 1.61 [confidence interval (CI): 1.34, 1.94] compared to those aged 0–11 months, a decrease from 3.04 (CI: 2.50, 3.71) in 2007. Regional disparities were notable, with children from the Sylhet division increasingly at risk. The OR for Sylhet rose from 1.02 (CI: 0.85, 1.22) in 2007 to 1.66 (CI: 1.35, 2.04) in 2017. In addition, socioeconomic factors shifted over time: OR for the poorest households decreased from 1.45 (CI: 1.21, 1.74) in 2007 to 1.18 (CI: 0.99, 1.42) in 2017, while children of mothers with higher education saw a consistent effect, with OR of 0.55 (CI: 0.38, 0.77) in 2007 and 0.49 (CI: 0.37, 0.66) in 2017. Over the survey years 2007, 2014, and 2017, girls were consistently less likely to be wasted than boys. In 2007, OR for girls was 0.86 (CI: 0.74, 0.99), slightly decreasing to 0.81 (CI: 0.68, 0.96) in 2017. Children of mothers with higher education were also less likely to be wasted compared to those of mothers without education. OR for children of mother with higher education was 0.79 (CI: 0.52, 1.20) in 2007, decreasing to 0.51 (CI: 0.35, 0.75) in 2017. In 2017, children aged 48–59 months had an OR of 1.84 (CI: 1.51, 2.24) for being underweight compared to those aged 0–11 months, slightly lower than the OR of 2.10 (CI: 1.75, 2.53) in 2007. In addition, in 2017, children from the richest families had OR of 0.68 (CI: 0.53, 0.87), consistent with that of 0.65 (CI: 0.52, 0.80) observed in 2007. Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions addressing the specific needs of older children, those from low-income families, and regions with persistent disparities. Strengthening educational initiatives, enhancing nutritional programs, and promoting equitable healthcare access are crucial for sustaining the progress in reducing undernutrition in children under 5 years in Bangladesh.

Abstract Background Bangladesh has experienced growth in the older population in number and proportion, owing to a decline in fertility and mortality, and an increase in life expectancy. Older women in rural Bangladesh have considerably poorer health status than older men, because of women’s’ higher life expectancy and extreme vulnerability as a result of socioeconomic marginalization. Objectives The purpose of the current study was to explore the morbidity patterns and healthcare-seeking behaviors, and their determinants, among older women in selected rural areas of the Bagerhat District in Bangladesh, and to provide recommendations for potential future interventions in this context. Material and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at the household level. Data were collected from 233 randomly selected older women ≥ 60 years of age in three selected villages in the Bagerhat district in Bangladesh in November 2021. Univariate and bivariate analyses (Chi-squared test) were applied to explore morbidities and the associations of healthcare-seeking behaviors with various determinants. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to identify the associations between healthcare-seeking behavior and significant determinants extracted from the bivariate analysis. Results Diabetes and liver diseases were the most common morbidities among older women. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that education, living arrangement, size of the family, and morbidity patterns were significantly associated with seeking healthcare services among older women in rural Bangladesh (P ≤ 0.05). The rates of seeking healthcare services were higher among older women with primary and secondary education, those living with spouses and children, those residing in extended families with seven or more members, and older women with diabetes and liver diseases. Conclusion On the basis of the findings, we suggest that the traditional extended family structure should be sustained, wherein older people are treated with care and respect, thereby promoting healthy aging in rural Bangladesh. Furthermore, family relationships should be strengthened, because older individuals, particularly older women, require emotional and familial support to lead healthy lives. Because gender roles, norms, and relationships influence people’s exposure to disease, awareness programs regarding the prevalence of morbidities in old age, particularly among older women, should be expanded in rural areas to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.

Abstract Background Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. This large population predominantly affects the socioeconomic development of the people living in this country. Therefore, it is essential to identify the determinants of household size in the country and suggest implications for future interventions in similar contexts. Objectives The primary purpose of the present study was to explore the distribution of household size and its determinants based on the nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) data. Material and Methods The data were extracted from BDHS 2017–2018, a national survey. Individual responses from the adult women of each household were considered in this nationwide survey. We applied univariate and bivariate analyses (chi-squared test) to explore the distribution of household size and different selected determinants. The multinomial logistic regression was utilized to identify the association between household size and the selected independent determinants in our study. Results Findings of our multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that sex of the household head, division, decision about health, respondent’s age, residence, respondent’s education, husband’s education, wealth index, religion, husband’s occupation, and respondent’s working status were significantly associated with the household size (P ≤ 0.05). We observed that household size tended to be more prominent in rural areas, in the Sylhet division, in families where the head of the household was a male, and in families where others except the respondents and their husbands made health-related decisions. Besides, large household size was also common among respondents aged 25 years or less, respondents and their husbands with higher education, respondents from the rich and middle class, respondents who were Muslim, respondents whose husbands were businessmen and jobholders, and respondents who were workers. Conclusions The findings of our study suggest that household size in Bangladesh is associated with different socioeconomic factors. We recommend promoting awareness programs on family planning promotion and early marriage prevention, especially in rural areas, to prevent the rapid growth of the population. Expansion of education for both men and women and female involvement in income-generating activities should be encouraged to effectively control the household size in Bangladesh.

The primary goal of this study was to investigate the severity of being overweight/obese among non-pregnant women and its trend for change over the last 10 years in Bangladesh. This research featured 16,398 female participants and used the chi-Squared test to investigate the association between different socioeconomic variables and dependent variables. We applied the average annual rate of increase (AARI) to determine the trends of selected variables over the last decade. Next, we applied a multilevel logistic regression model to determine specific trigger factors at the individual and community levels; for this, we used the 2017–2018 data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS). Individually, women between the ages of 40 and 44 years (odds ratio [OR] 5.68; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 4.68–6.89) with better education (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.34–1.80) and from the wealthiest households (OR 3.65; 95% CI 3.17–4.20) had a higher risk for being overweight or obese. On the other hand, working women (OR 0.80; 95% CI 0.75–0.87) had a lower risk of becoming overweight or obese. Respondents from affluent communities had a higher probability of being overweight or obese (OR 1.93; 95% CI 1.72–2.18) whereas women in rural areas were less likely (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.57–0.69) to be overweight or obese. The efforts of both individuals and communities are expected to raise awareness among wealthy and educated women.

Neonatal mortality is high in developing countries, and reducing neonatal mortality is an indispensable part of the third Sustainable Development Goal. This study estimated the prevalence of neonatal mortality and the impact of maternal education, economic status, and utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services on neonatal mortality in developing countries. We used a cross-sectional study design to integrate data from 21 developing countries to acquire a wider perspective on neonatal mortality. A meta-analysis was conducted using the latest Demographic and Health Survey data from 21 developing countries. In addition, sensitivity analysis was adopted to assess the stability of the meta-analysis. The random-effects model indicated that women with higher education were less likely to experience neonatal death than mothers with up to primary education (odds ratio [OR] 0.820, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.740–0.910). Women with higher socioeconomic status were less likely to experience neonatal death than mothers with lower socioeconomic status (OR 0.823, 95% CI 0.747–0.908). Mothers with ANC were less likely to experience neonatal death than those with no ANC (OR 0.374, 95% CI 0.323–0.433). Subgroup analysis showed that maternal education and ANC were more effective in Asian countries. In this study, mothers’ lower educational level, poor economic status, and lack of ANC were statistically significant factors associated with neonatal death in developing countries. The effect of these factors on neonatal death differed in different regions.

This study determined the prevalence and trends in caesarean section (C-section) deliveries and the factors associated with the utilization of C-section deliveries among Indonesian mothers from 2007 to 2017. We used Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey data sets (2007, 2012, and 2017) to assess the prevalence, trends, and factors associated with C-section delivery through univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses. A 10% increase in C-section delivery among Indonesian women was observed between the years 2007 and 2017. Mothers from urban areas tended to receive more C-sections than mothers from rural areas (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.49). More educated mothers were more likely (aOR = 3.373) to receive C-sections than mothers without formal education. Mothers from wealthy family backgrounds were more (aOR = 1.97) likely to receive C-sections than mothers from low-income families. Antenatal care (ANC) visits were significantly positively associated with receiving C-sections; mothers with more than four ANC visits (aOR = 4.54) tended to receive more C-sections than mothers with no ANC visits. For first births, mothers over 25 years of age were more likely (aOR = 2.07) to receive C-sections than mothers less than 18 years of age. The percentage of C-sections has alarmingly increased. Thus, authorities in Indonesia should consider these findings and take necessary steps to decrease C-sections. The results of this study should help policymakers formulate appropriate policies that will encourage regular delivery where most appropriate.