Child Nutritional Status in Bangladesh: Prevalence, Determinants, and Policy Implications

ABSTRACT Background and Aims To investigate the prevalence and determinants of child malnutrition in Bangladesh, this study analysed data from the nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS) 2017–2018. The primary objective was to assess the nutritional status of children aged 0 to 35 months using indicators of stunting, underweight, and wasting. Methods A combination of Pearson's chi‐square test and multilevel binary logistic regression was employed to examine the association between child malnutrition and various demographic, socioeconomic, and health‐related factors. Results Despite gradual improvements, approximately 38% of children under the age of 3 remained malnourished. Key determinants included regional disparities, parental education levels, birth intervals, maternal nutritional well‐being, place of delivery, duration of breastfeeding, and recent illnesses. Conclusion The findings underscore the need for specific interventions such as parental education programmes, enhanced maternal healthcare, equitable access to quality nutrition and healthcare services, and promotion of optimal birth and feeding practices. Addressing these factors through multifaceted strategies is essential to mitigating child malnutrition and improving child health outcomes in Bangladesh.