Micronutrient intake status and associated factors among children aged 6–59 months in rural Bangladesh: A Multilevel Analysis

Background and objective: Although micronutrient deficiency is considered preventable, it takes thousands of children’s lives each year. Child mortality can be reduced by maximizing the Micronutrient intake status. This study’s primary goal is to identify the factors associated with Micronutrient intake status among 6-59 months children in rural Bangladesh using multilevel analysis.

Methods: This study performed univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis with Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18 data. Under multivariate analysis, two-level binary logistic regression.

Results: A total of 4264 mothers who had children aged 6-59 months was included in this study. The findings of our study suggest that children aged between 24 to 59 months had higher odds of having micronutrients (OR=3.29; CI=2.38-4.57) than the children aged 6 to 23 months. The children with mothers who have primary education (OR=1.93; CI= 1.12-3.21) and secondary and higher education (OR=2.62; CI= 1.49-4.58), were more likely to have micronutrients compared to the children with uneducated mothers. The mothers aged between 20 to 34 years (OR=1.57; CI=1.12-2.20), and between 35 to 49 years (OR=2.74; CI=1.28-5.84) gave their children less micronutrients than the mothers aged less than 20. The respondents who were exposed to media had higher odds of consumption of micronutrients (OR=1.39; CI=0.99-1.95) than those who were not exposed to media. Lastly, the only significant community-level variable explained that the participants living in a community with ≥ 50% maternal high education had higher odds of micronutrient intake status (OR=1.57; CI=1.06-2.33).

Conclusion: Both individual and community-level factors identified in this study can be controlled to ensure maximum Micronutrient intake status. Moreover, women’s education, media exposure, child’s age and community maternal high education can play a crucial role in this issue. Initiatives addressing these factors should be given priority by policymakers and public health professionals in order to improve children's micronutrient status and ultimately lower child mortality in the rural area.

• Supervision