Raisa Mehzabeen

Malnutrition remains a pressing issue in Bangladesh, despite improvements in economic indicators and health interventions over the past decades. With a population of over 160 million, Bangladesh has made strides in reducing poverty and boosting economic growth, yet undernutrition, stunting, and other nutrition-related issues continue to plague millions, particularly among the most vulnerable groups—women and children.

Current Malnutrition Landscape

Bangladesh faces a double burden of malnutrition, with significant portions of its population afflicted by both undernutrition and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Despite progress, the country is still off course to meet global nutrition targets, such as reducing childhood stunting, anemia in women, and maternal and child nutrition goals set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN).

According to the latest data, 28% of children under five in Bangladesh suffer from stunting, indicating chronic malnutrition. This is notably higher than the regional average of 21.8%. Wasting, or acute malnutrition, affects 9.8% of children, which, although slightly below global averages, is still concerning. These figures are symptoms of a larger systemic issue related to poverty, poor access to healthcare, and inadequate nutrition during critical developmental stages of childhood. The country also experiences significant rates of low birth weight, with 27.8% of infants born with less-than-ideal body weight, reflecting maternal malnutrition and other socioeconomic challenges during pregnancy.

On the other hand, Bangladesh has witnessed a reduction in the prevalence of childhood overweight, standing at 2.4%, which is below regional and global averages. However, diet-related NCDs, such as obesity and diabetes, are becoming increasingly prevalent among adults. Diabetes, in particular, affects around 10.9% of women and 11.9% of men in Bangladesh, signaling a transition in public health concerns as the country experiences rapid urbanization and lifestyle changes.

Causes of Malnutrition

Several underlying factors contribute to the persistent malnutrition crisis in Bangladesh:

1. Poverty and Inequality: Despite reductions in poverty levels over the last two decades, Bangladesh still grapples with widespread inequality, particularly in rural and marginalized areas. These inequalities manifest in uneven access to nutritious food, clean water, sanitation, and healthcare, exacerbating malnutrition rates in underprivileged communities. Pockets of social deprivation, particularly in areas like the northeastern haors and southeastern hill tracts, show higher rates of stunting and undernutrition among children, indicating a regional disparity in nutrition and health services.

2. Inadequate Diet and Food Insecurity: A significant portion of Bangladesh's population lacks access to a diverse and nutrient-rich diet. The diet of many Bangladeshi households is dominated by rice, which provides necessary calories but lacks essential vitamins, minerals, and protein. This nutritional gap leads to deficiencies in micronutrients like iodine, iron, and vitamin A. Iodine deficiency, in particular, remains widespread, with 40% of school-aged children and non-pregnant women affected due to inadequate iodized salt coverage.

Food insecurity, exacerbated by socio-economic challenges and the effects of climate change, also plays a critical role. Rising food prices and extreme weather events, such as floods and cyclones, disrupt agriculture and the availability of affordable nutritious food, further entrenching malnutrition, especially in rural areas.

3. Poor Maternal and Child Healthcare: Maternal malnutrition has a direct impact on child health, contributing to low birth weights and stunted growth. In Bangladesh, maternal health services, including prenatal nutrition and access to quality healthcare, remain insufficient in many regions. A lack of education on maternal nutrition, coupled with traditional dietary practices, often results in pregnant women consuming inadequate amounts of essential nutrients. This exacerbates malnutrition in both mothers and their children, perpetuating a vicious cycle of poor health outcomes across generations.

4. Inadequate Sanitation and Water Access: Sanitation and hygiene play a crucial role in preventing malnutrition, especially in children. Poor access to clean water and sanitation facilities exposes communities to waterborne diseases, which further deplete nutrient absorption in affected individuals, contributing to a higher prevalence of wasting and stunting.

Progress and Challenges

Despite these daunting challenges, Bangladesh has made notable progress in some areas. The country has been successful in improving exclusive breastfeeding rates, with 62.6% of infants under six months being exclusively breastfed, a significant achievement that contributes to better infant nutrition. Furthermore, Bangladesh's focus on reducing childhood mortality and promoting maternal health has resulted in gradual improvements in child nutrition indicators.

However, progress in other areas remains slow. Anaemia among women of reproductive age, for example, has seen little improvement, with 36.7% of women between 15 and 49 years still affected. This lack of progress in addressing micronutrient deficiencies reflects the need for more robust national strategies and targeted interventions.

Addressing Malnutrition: The Way Forward

The fight against malnutrition in Bangladesh requires a multi-pronged approach that addresses both the immediate and underlying causes of undernutrition. Key strategies must include:

1. Strengthening Social Protection Systems: To alleviate the impact of poverty on food security, Bangladesh must strengthen its social protection mechanisms. Targeted food assistance programs, particularly for vulnerable groups like pregnant women, infants, and marginalized communities, can help ensure access to diverse and nutritious foods.

2. Improving Agricultural Diversity: Given the country's heavy reliance on rice as the main dietary staple, there is an urgent need to diversify agricultural production. Promoting the cultivation of nutrient-dense crops, such as pulses, fruits, vegetables, and animal-based proteins, can help improve the overall dietary quality of households, particularly in rural areas.

3. Enhancing Education and Awareness: Educational campaigns focused on nutrition, maternal health, and hygiene practices are essential in tackling malnutrition at the grassroots level. Empowering women with knowledge about proper child-feeding practices, maternal nutrition, and the importance of exclusive breastfeeding can have a transformative impact on child health outcomes.

4. Climate Resilience and Food Security: Given Bangladesh’s vulnerability to climate change, building resilience in its agricultural sector is vital to ensuring long-term food security. Investments in climate-smart agricultural practices, improved irrigation systems, and early warning systems for natural disasters can help protect the food supply and prevent malnutrition caused by food shortages.

Malnutrition remains a critical challenge in Bangladesh, threatening the health and development of millions, particularly the nation's children. While the country has made commendable progress in some areas, such as breastfeeding and reducing childhood overweight, there is still much work to be done to meet global nutrition targets. A comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach is essential, focusing on food security, maternal and child health, education, and climate resilience to ensure that all citizens can lead healthy, productive lives free from the burden of malnutrition.

By prioritizing these efforts, Bangladesh can not only improve the well-being of its people but also move closer to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2: zero hunger by 2030.

The writer is a, Student, Dept. Food And Nutrition Govt. College of Applied Human Science