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September 10, 2025

Assessing Food Security and Nutritional Inequalities Among Children and Adolescents in the Urban Slums of Bangladesh

Key Points

Nearly 56.4% of children were underweight, indicating a severe malnutrition issue in urban slums.
Food security levels were alarmingly low, with only 21% of participants achieving acceptable scores.
Sociodemographic factors like maternal education significantly influenced food security and nutritional outcomes.
The study emphasizes the importance of targeted interventions to enhance education and income opportunities.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined the disparities in food security and nutritional status among 500 children and adolescents (aged 5-17 years) in urban slums of Bangladesh. Data were collected from April to June 2024, assessing sociodemographic factors, food security using the Food Consumption Score (FCS), and nutritional status via Body Mass Index (BMI). Results revealed alarming levels of undernutrition, with 56.4% underweight (BMI <18.5) and 47.4% exhibiting borderline food consumption. Severe food insecurity affected 49% of participants, while only 21% achieved acceptable FCS levels. Significant associations were found between food security and parental education, family income, and employment (p < 0.001). Higher maternal education and income correlated with improved FCS, whereas larger family sizes and unemployment were linked to poorer outcomes. School attendance also positively influenced nutritional status. The study highlights a critical double burden of malnutrition, with undernutrition predominant and emerging overweight concerns. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions addressing socioeconomic determinants, such as enhancing parental education, income-generating opportunities, and school-based nutrition programs, to improve food security and health outcomes in urban slums.

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