Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Reproductive health is closely related with nutritional status of a country. Nutritional problems are different between developed and developing countries. In the context of Bangladesh there is no recent assessment. This study aims to assess the nutritional status and reproductive morbidity among women in Dhaka city.

Description of methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 400 women, aged 15–40 years, in Dhaka city. Sample was selected using multistage cluster sampling method. For measuring nutritional status standard techniques of anthropometric indices were used. Social status and reproductive morbidity related data were collected using a pre-designed questionnaire. Results were expressed as frequency, bivariate correlation and χ² test.

Results: The average age of the respondents is 25 years and monthly family income is 9216 TK. 31% of women were illiterate. Body mass index (BMI) is an important indicator for nutritional status of the women. This study found that, among the women the proportion of underweight is 19% and overweight is 17%. 32% respondents suffered pregnancy related complication during their pregnancy or delivery time. Anemia is a risk factor for pregnancy related complications. Based on their self-reported information, 74% women had anemia and 33% women had irregular menstruation during their reproductive age. 13% hypertension was found among the respondents in this study. Hypertension is a risk factor during pregnancy for pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Among the women 3% had diabetes. About half of the respondents had poor appetite. That means they might be suffering from anorexia or bulimia nervosa. BMI is significantly (P<0.05) associated with respondents age (r=0.25), education level (r=0.19) and monthly family income (r=0.21). In this study anemia, hypertension, diabetes and respondents appetite are measuring variables of reproductive morbidity and BMI is a measuring variable of the nutritional status. BMI is significantly (P<0.05) associated with reproductive morbidity.

Conclusion: i) Among the respondents one third women are malnourished. ii) Approximately 60% women are suffering from reproductive morbidity in Dhaka city. iii) There is a strong association between socio demographic and nutritional status. iv) Reproductive morbidity is associated with nutritional status.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.