KUMJ | VOL. 23 | NO. 2 | ISSUE 90 | APRIL - JUNE, 2025
Double Burden of Malnutrition among Mother-Child Dyads in a Rural Area of West Bengal, India: A Comprehensive Analysis of Contributing Factors
Sengupta T, Mallick AK, Sahu M, Sarkar S
Abstract: Background
The double burden of malnutrition (DBM), where undernutrition and overnutrition
coexist, is a new paradigm in the global nutritional landscape. With an increasing rate
of obesity and a gradual decline in undernutrition, India is currently experiencing
this public health challenge. At the household level, among mother-child pairs, this
disparity in nutritional status is becoming evident.
Objective
To assess the prevalence and patterns of the double burden of malnutrition among
mother-child dyads and to determine the factors associated with this condition.
Method
In this observational, cross-sectional study, the nutritional status (double burden
of malnutrition) of 360 mothers and their children (aged 0 - 23 months) from a
rural community of West Bengal, India, was assessed. Data were collected via
interviews using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire and through standard
anthropometric measurements. The collected data were subsequently analyzed
using SPSS (Version 25).
Result
The findings showed that 16.1% of the mother-child pairs had double burden of
malnutrition, the highest being the pair of overweight/obese mother-stunted
children (10%). Mother’s education (aOR 4.19, CI 1.65-10.62), food-insecure
households (aOR 3.27, CI 1.51-9.16), and lower socio-economic class (aOR 2.70, CI
1.09-6.67) were found to be significantly associated with the presence of double
burden of malnutrition among participants.
Conclusion
The double burden of malnutrition among mother-child dyads can be seen as a dual
nutrition challenge that needs to be addressed with paramount importance. This
contrasting form of malnutrition claims a renewed focus and program intervention
through the equity-focused policies of Double Duty Action.
Keyword : Double burden, India, Malnutrition, Mother-child Dyad, Rural
