Women's Nutrition in Dhaka, Bangladesh

This study investigates the prevalence of malnutrition amongst poor women in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The literature states that malnutrition is both a consequence and a cause of poverty and is exacerbated by low levels of education. The direct causes of malnutrition are inadequate dietary intake and disease. Quantitative analysis of the survey instrument reveals that some of the factors that worsen the nutritional status of Dhaka women are: low socioeconomic status (exacerbated by a rise in global staple food commodity prices – like rice – in recent years), low levels of education and literacy, smoking and betel nut chewing behaviour within households, intra-familial food distribution that favours males, drinking unsafe water and an unhygienic environment. The study proposes several policy alternatives to address these issues by increasing women’s understanding of adequate diet, improving the quality of the diet that is within their financial means and lessoning their vulnerability to disease.