Association between high-risk fertility behaviours and the likelihood of chronic undernutrition and anaemia among married Bangladeshi women of reproductive age

Objective: To explore the association between high-risk fertility behaviours and the likelihood of chronic undernutrition, anaemia and the coexistence of anaemia and undernutrition among women of reproductive age. Design: The 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, conducted from 8 July to 27 December 2011. Setting: Selected urban and rural areas of Bangladesh. Subjects: A total of 2197 ever-married women living with at least one child younger than 5 years. Exposure was determined from maternal reports of high-risk fertility behaviours. We considered three parameters, maternal age at the time of delivery, birth order and birth interval, to define the high-risk fertility behaviours. Chronic undernutrition, anaemia and the coexistence of anaemia and undernutrition among women were the outcome variables. Results: A substantial percentage of women were exposed to have a high-risk fertility pattern (41.8 %); 33.0 % were at single high-risk and 8.8 % were at multiple high-risk. After adjusting for relevant covariates, high-risk fertility behaviours were associated with increased likelihood of chronic undernutrition (adjusted relative risk; 95 % CI: 1.22; 1.03, 1.44), anaemia (1.12; 1.00, 1.25) and the coexistence of anaemia and undernutrition (1.52; 1.17, 1.98). Furthermore, multiple high-risk fertility behaviours appeared to have more profound consequences on the outcome measured. Conclusions: Maternal high-risk fertility behaviours are shockingly frequent practices among women in Bangladesh. High-risk fertility behaviours are important predictors of the increased likelihood of women's chronic undernutrition, anaemia and the coexistence of anaemia and undernutrition.