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Parental tobacco use is associated with increased risk of child malnutrition in Bangladesh.

Authors :
Best CM
Sun K
de Pee S
Bloem MW
Stallkamp G
Semba RD
Source :
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) [Nutrition] 2007 Oct; Vol. 23 (10), pp. 731-8. Date of Electronic Publication: 2007 Jul 30.
Publication Year :
2007

Abstract

Objectives: We investigated the relation between parental tobacco use and malnutrition in children <5 y of age and compared expenditures on foods in households with and without tobacco use.<br />Methods: Tobacco use, child anthropometry, and other factors were examined in a stratified, multistage cluster sample of 77 678 households from the Bangladesh Nutrition Surveillance Project (2005-2006). Main outcome measurements were stunting, underweight, and wasting, and severe stunting, severe underweight, and severe wasting. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of household expenditures spent on food.<br />Results: The prevalence of parental tobacco use was 69.9%. Using the new World Health Organization child growth standards, prevalences of stunting, underweight, and wasting were 46.0%, 37.6%, and 12.3%, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, parental tobacco use was associated with an increased risk of stunting (odds ratio [OR] 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-1.21, P < 0.0001), underweight (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.12-1.22, P < 0.0001), and wasting (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.03-1.17, P = 0.004), and severe stunting (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.10-1.23, P < 0.0001), severe underweight (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.13-1.30, P < 0.0001), and severe wasting (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.98-1.32, P = 0.09). Households with tobacco use spent proportionately less per capita on food items and other necessities.<br />Conclusions: In Bangladesh parental tobacco use may exacerbate child malnutrition and divert household funds away from food and other necessities. Further studies with a stronger analytic approach are needed. These results suggest that tobacco control should be part of public health strategies aimed at decreasing child malnutrition in developing countries.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0899-9007
Volume :
23
Issue :
10
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
17664060
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2007.06.014