HOUSEHOLD NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH ILLNESS OF TWO SELECTED DISTRICTS IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

Nutritional status is an important factor in determining the health status because it can describe a balance between the needs of the body to the intake of nutrients. Good nutrition is the basic component of good health. In this study, I analyze the probable relationship between dietary calorie intake and health status of population living in Narayanganj and Kurigram districts of Bangladesh. Poverty rate is the highest in Kurigram and lowest in Narayanganj. Secondary data has been used in this study. Descriptive analysis has been carried out to get idea about sociodemographic characteristics of the population which helps towards statistical analysis. The status

of chronic illness and illness has been found out in the selected districts. Multiple binary logistic

regression analysis has been used to predict the possibility of suffering from chronic illness and

illness influenced by the selected independent variable. The independent variables are household

size, gender, age, education, intake of carbohydrate, protein, oil & fats and vitamin & minerals. It

was

found from the study that calorie intake has significant contribution to the probability of suffering chronic illness and illness. In the poorer region of this study average duration of suffering chronic illness is higher than the others lower to lower calorie intake. It can be suggested that policy program to avail required calorie among the poor and make them health conscious should be undertaken to build an effective man power.