Trend of Birth Spacing Impact on Physical Growth of Children under Age Five: An Analysis Based on Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys

Abstract

Physical growth and development of a young child is vital for quality of life, attaining good health, and national productivity. Physical growth and development during the first few years of life is influenced by many factors including birth spacing. This study was aimed to assess the impact of birth spacing on two indices of physical growth and development (stunting and underweight-also considered as malnutrition) of young children using the data from four of the most recent national-level demographic and health surveys in Bangladesh known as Bangladesh Demography and Health Surveys. Bivariate models have been employed to examine the impact of a number of background characteristics on stunting and underweight of children. These background characteristics include birth spacing, mother’s age, education, BMI, wealth index, place of residence, access to media, ANC visit, and breastfeeding duration. To understand the potential confounding impact of these background characteristics on the relationship between birth spacing and physical growth and development of young children, two logistic regression models are considered. The adjusted odds ratios were estimated which provide ideas of the dynamics between the predictors. Moreover, time series analysis has been employed to predict the stunting and underweight status of young children in Bangladesh. The analysis of physical growth and development provides researchers and policymakers valuable tools to understand the nutritional status of young children.  The analysis shows that variables such as mother’s education, mother’s age, wealth index, ANC visit, and breast feeding duration vastly influence both stunting and underweight.  Available resources should be offered to address these covariates.