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In Bangladesh, two food composition tables (FCTs) were published over two consecutive years, in 2012 and in 2013. When different databases are used to calculate nutrient intakes, assessment of divergence and agreements is required. This study aimed to compare the differences in nutrient intakes, to assess the similarities in nutrient intakes between the two FCTs, and to explore the factors that cause the difference in nutrient intakes, if any. A total sample of 40 households was taken from the Household Income Expenditure Survey of 2010. Adult male equivalent (AME) units were used to estimate weighted average intake. Weighted k statistics were used to assess agreements between the two FCTs. Although median intake of energy and energy‐yielding nutrients (protein, fats, and carbohydrates) were found statistically significant between the two databases, the differences were not large enough to have practical significance. Excellent agreements were found in energy and carbohydrates with good for fats and fair for protein. However, statistically significant median percent differences were seen in beta carotene (441%), vitamin B6 (153%), and folate (129%), vitamin C (106%), zinc (101%), and iron (41%) intakes. For thiamin, iron, calcium, and phosphorous, more than 50% of the subjects were found in the same quintile, whereas nine out of 15 vitamins and minerals were misclassified into the opposite quintiles (≥10%). Fair agreements were found for most of the micronutrients. Variations in analytical methods and sources of nutrient information were the main contributing factors for actual differences. FCT data should be interpreted with caution, especially for micronutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Improving infant and young child feeding practices is critical for improving growth and reducing child mortality and morbidity. This paper aims to compare predictors of minimum dietary diversity, an important indicator of adequate complementary feeding practices, in Bangladesh in 2011 and 2014. The 2011 and 2014 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey were used to examine predictors of minimum dietary diversity among 6–23 months. An additional analysis was conducted for the 18–23‐month group, because a significant increase in meeting minimum dietary diversity recommendations was seen in this age group only. Factors found to be associated with practices were compared across time points. In 2011, minimum dietary diversity was 23.8% and increased to 28.8% in 2014. Among children 18–23 months, in 2011, minimum dietary diversity was 32.5% and increased to 42.8% in 2014. Among all children, wealth, education, exposure to media, and antenatal care were significant predictors of dietary diversity. In the 18–23‐month age group, significant predictors in 2011 were wealth and decision making. In 2014, significant predictors were education and exposure to media. Demographic trends indicated a significant increase in education and exposure to media between 2011 and 2014. As these were significant for minimum dietary diversity in 2014 overall and for 18–23 months, they might be important targets of future interventions, specifically utilizing media channels and tailoring special strategies for women with low education and limited exposure to media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socioeconomic inequalities in child undernutrition remain one of the main challenges in Bangladesh. The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for such inequalities across different population groups. However, no study has examined the relative contribution of different social determinants to the socioeconomic inequality in child undernutrition in Bangladesh. Our objective is to measure the extent of socioeconomic-related inequalities in childhood stunting and identify the key social determinants that potentially explain these inequalities in Bangladesh. We used data for children younger than 5 years of age for this analysis from 2 rounds of Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 2004 and 2014. We examined the socioeconomic inequality in stunting using the concentration curve and concentration index. We then decomposed the concentration index into the contributions of individual social determinants. We found significant inequality in stunting prevalence. The negative concentration index of stunting indicated that stunting was more concentrated among the poor than among the well-off. Our results suggest that inequalities in stunting increased between 2004 and 2014. Household economic status, maternal and paternal education, health-seeking behavior of the mothers, sanitation, fertility, and maternal stature were the major contributors to the disparity in stunting prevalence in Bangladesh. Equity is a critical component of sustainable development goals. Health policymakers should work together across sectors and develop strategies for effective intersectoral actions to adequately address the social determinants of equity and reduce inequalities in stunting and other health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]