Determinants of child physical health development in Bangladesh: a study of key socioeconomic and cultural influences

Physical health is the overall well-being of the body, ensuring the proper functioning of organs, muscles, and systems. It includes fitness, nutrition, disease prevention, and healthy lifestyle choices. This study investigates the physical health development of children in Bangladesh and identifies key influencing factors. The data of this study was collected through a two-stage sampling approach, with trained interviewers administering structured questionnaires. A total of 401 children aged 6 to 10 years were included in the analysis. To examine the associations between variables, the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests were conducted for bivariate analysis, while a generalized log-normal regression model was employed to assess the impact of various socioeconomic and demographic factors on children's physical health development. The findings indicate that early childhood diseases negatively affect physical development (OR: 0.95, CI: 0.92-1.83, p < 0.05). Conversely, access to outdoor play opportunities (OR: 0.96, CI: 0.93-0.99, p < 0.05) and the provision of supplementary food (OR: 1.05, CI: 1.02-1.09, p < 0.05) significantly enhance children's physical health. Additionally, gender (OR: 0.96, CI: 0.94-0.99, p < 0.05), regional division (OR: 1.04, CI: 0.98-1.07, p < 0.05), and monthly family income (OR: 0.92, CI: 0.98-1.09, p < 0.05) were identified as significant determinants of physical health outcomes. These findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions to promote children's physical well-being in Bangladesh. Policymakers should prioritize strategies that mitigate the effects of early childhood diseases, enhance access to outdoor activities, and ensure adequate nutritional support to foster improved health outcomes among children.