Rising Threat of Malnutrition in Coastal Communities of Southern Bangladesh

Background: Malnutrition remains a major public health challenge in coastal Bangladesh, where environmental stressors, food insecurity, and poor healthcare access exacerbate nutritional deficiencies in children. Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of malnutrition among children under five in three unions (Protapnagar, Budhata, and Bordal) of Ashashuni Upazila, focusing on socioeconomic, dietary, and environmental factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2021, including 250 children under five years selected from the three unions. Data were collected through structured interviews with mothers, anthropometric measurements (height, weight), and clinical assessments of nutritional deficiencies. The prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting was determined using WHO growth standards. Associations between malnutrition and socioeconomic variables were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression models. Results: The study found that 44% of children were underweight, 40% were stunted, and 32% were wasted. Malnutrition was significantly associated with low economic status (p = 0.009), maternal occupation, inadequate dietary diversity, poor breastfeeding practices, and unsafe drinking water. Among the children, 76% were from lower-income households, 28% consumed unsafe water, and 40% had diarrheal episodes in the past three months. Children of mothers engaged in fish farming and labor-intensive jobs had a higher prevalence of underweight (50%) than those of housewives (40%). Conclusion: Childhood malnutrition is a severe public health concern in coastal Bangladesh, driven by poverty, poor maternal health, food insecurity, and environmental challenges. Urgent nutrition-focused interventions, improved healthcare access, and sustainable economic support are needed to mitigate the rising burden of malnutrition in these vulnerable communities.