LEVELS AND CORRELATES OF MATERNAL NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN URBAN BANGLADESH

Researchers analyzed anthropometric data from 2417 nonpregnant mothers socioeconomic data from 2048 mothers reproductive history data from 1314 mothers and socioeconomic and reproductive history data from 1185 mothers to determine the levels and correlates of maternal nutritional status of nonpregnant mothers in the slums of Dhaka Bangladesh. Mean weight height middle-upper-arm-circumference (MUAC) and body mass index (BMI) of the 2417 mothers stood at 41.8 kg 148.8 cm 232.5 mm and 18.8 respectively. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that mothers schooling and household economic status had a significant positive effect on weight MUAC and BMI (p < .05 and .01 respectively). Schooling had a significant positive association with mothers height (p < .05) but household economic status did not. Maternal height and weight had a significant negative association with child death (p < .001 and < .05 respectively). Mothers equal to or less than 155 cm had an increased risk of child death (odds ratio [OR] = 1.4-2.64) with those less than 140 cm in height having the greatest risk of child death (OR = 2.64). Short stature linked to child loss indicates a possible intergenerational influence of poor childhood nutrition suggesting that improvement of nutritional status for girls would improve child health in the next generation. Sophisticated and long-term planning is needed however to achieve improved nutritional status of girls due to various obstacles (e.g. son preference poverty food scarcity and high prevalence of infectious diseases). In the meantime maternal and child health workers should target shorter mothers (i.e. < 145 cm) for appropriate prenatal and obstetric care since they face the greatest risk of child death.