Assessment of Dietary Pattern and Nutritional Status among Women of Reproductive Age Group in rural Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition due to poor feeding habits, is still a major public health concern in Bangladesh. The dietary patterns, quality of diets and nutritional status of reproductive aged women have significant impact on both their own health and their offspring’s health. For instance, healthy nutritional status and proper dietary pattern of women improves maternal and child health. Moreover, the double burden of malnutrition such as undernutrition and overnutrition are prevalent among the reproductive aged women due to changing lifestyle and eating behaviours, over the last few years. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the dietary pattern and nutritional status among women of reproductive age group in rural Bangladesh.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Upazila Health Complex, Sitakundu from September to November 2024 among 410 women of reproductive age group. The data were collected with face-toface interview and body mass index was measured. The data were compiled and tabulated according to key variables and analyzed with IBM SPSS 29.0.2.

Results: Majority 32.2% of the study people belonged to age group 31-40 years. Among them 84.4% were married. Maximum respondents were housewives and of upper-low socioeconomic condition. Among them 45.4% of the respondents had healthy weight. Whereas, underweight was found in teenage group and overweight obesity wasfound in older age group. Cereals, vegetables and fatty foods were consumed more by majority of the study population while pulses, fruits, milk and dairy were taken less. Fruits, milk, sugar and dairy products were  consumed more by the 15-20 years aged women but vegetables, fats and oils were taken more by the elderly participants. However, cereals, meat, fish, egg, fat and oil were casually taken by all age groups. Majority of the underweight women had high intake of milk and fruits whereas most of the overweight and obese respondents had large intake of rest of the food groups.

Conclusion: The dietary pattern and nutritional status of women of reproductive age is still poor in Bangladesh.Therefore, Public health interventions and strategies such as quality food and nutritional education should be imposed. At the same time, dietary awareness should be increased among women to ensure healthy maternal and child nutritional states.

IAHS Medical Journal Vol 8(1), June 2025; 64-70