MATERNAL NUTRITIONAL STATUS AS DETERMINANTS OF CHILD MALNUTRITION UNDER AGE 5 IN BANGLADESH: A MULTIVARIATE APPROACH

This paper explores the possible influence of maternal nutrition status on child. malnutrition under age 5 in Bangladesh by utilizing the data of Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS 2014).The Z-scores method of the anthropometric indicator weight-for-age is used in this analysis. The independence test of chi-square is used to study the effect of selected background characteristics of child nutrition in Bangladesh. In order to understand the significance of these variables when taken together, Multinomial Logistic Regression analysis is used. The study reveals that 32% of children under age 5 are underweight. From the Multinomial Logistic Regression analysis we see that the number of underweight children decreases with the increase of maternal age, maternal height and mother education and taking tetanus vaccination. The factors; Motherplace of residence, Wealth index, Maternal age, Maternal height, Maternal nutritionalstatus, Maternal (BMI), Antenatal care, Tetanus Vaccination, Months of breastfeeding have significant effect on child nutrition in Bangladesh's education, Types of place of residence, Wealth index, Maternal age, Maternal height, Maternal nutritional status, Maternal (BMI), Antenatal care, Tetanus Vaccination, Months of breastfeeding have significant effect on child nutrition in Bangladesh