Nutritional Status of Male and Female Children in Rural Bangladesh: a Comparative Study on Tentultala Village of Khulna District

Nutritional Status of Male and Female Children in Rural Bangladesh: A Comparative Study on Tentultala Village of Khulna District

Sajal Kanti Roy
Department of Sociology, University of Dhaka

Abstract: It is found from considerable evidence that malnutrition affects human performance, health and survival, including physical growth, morbidity, mortality, cognitive development, reproduction, physical work capacity and risks for several adult-onset chronic diseases. In Bangladesh malnutrition is now considered as a great problem for children to overcome their future problems in life and career. In this study I have tried to show the current status of the rural children with an aim to differentiate the malnutritional differences between the male and female children. I have used anthropometric measurement to assess the nutritional status of the children and calculated in a qualitative method. It is found that, still gender differences is prevailing in rural area and children specially female children are oppressed from their right to get proper food. More over I have found economic and social issues that directly and indirectly impact on the children’s access to proper food.

Evergreen Bangladesh is faded by the threat of Child Malnutrition. After four decades of liberation we still could not ensure adequate food and health services for our people. In this regard Children among our national population are most vulnerable position. Children are suppressed, oppressed and discriminated in food and health services. As a result they are suffering from chronic malnutrition and other health problems.
Globally, nutritional status is considered the best indicator of the well-being of young children and a parameter for monitoring progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially MDG 1.   More than 90% of the global burden of malnutri¬tion is attributable to 36 countries of the world, and Bangladesh is one of them.
The target of MDG 4 for Bangladesh is...