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. 2023 Nov 2:11:1270853.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1270853. eCollection 2023.

Urban-rural difference in factors associated with childhood functional difficulty in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

Mst Farjana Yesmin #  1 , Mohammad Rocky Khan Chowdhury #  1   2   3 , Farzana Akhter Bornee  4 , Manzur Kader  5 , Md Nazrul Islam Mondal  1 , Mohammad Hossain  3 , Mamunur Rashid  6
Affiliations

Urban-rural difference in factors associated with childhood functional difficulty in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

Mst Farjana Yesmin et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Objective: Early childhood functional difficulty poses a substantial worldwide public health challenge, leading to adverse effects on children's quality of life and overall productivity. Moreover, it represents a significant social and economic problem in Bangladesh. Therefore, the current study aimed to identify factors contributing to childhood functional difficulty in Bangladesh within the context of urban-rural areas.

Methods: A nationally representative cross-sectional survey data from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), 2019 in Bangladesh was used in this study. Chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with childhood functional difficulty.

Results: Functional difficulties were found in approximately 3.3% of children 2-4 years of age in urban areas and 2.5% in rural areas. Having a mother with functional difficulties and undernutrition were identified as significant factors common in both urban and rural areas. Further, mothers who had no formal education (AOR = 2.76, 95%CI = 1.18-6.45) and experienced infant death (AOR = 1.94, 95%CI = 1.01-3.70) were identified as significant factors of functional difficulty in urban areas. On the other hand, in rural areas, no access to mass media, children with acute respiratory infection (ARI) (AOR = 2.13, 95%CI = 1.39-3.28), female sex (AOR = 0.69, 95%CI = 0.53-0.91), child undernutrition (AOR = 1.73, 95%CI = 1.32-2.27) and poorer socio-economic status (AOR = 1.95, 95%CI = 1.08-3.55) were found significant factors.

Conclusion: Functional difficulty was found to be present in one out of every 35 children age 2 to 4 years in Bangladesh. Childhood functional difficulties were reported slightly higher in urban areas as compared to rural areas. Reducing childhood difficulties in urban areas demands comprehensive strategies: quality healthcare, inclusive education, community support, better information systems, and collaboration. To achieve urban-rural parity in child health, address disparities in economic development, healthcare, and education, especially for girls.

Keywords: Bangladesh; children; functional difficulty; logistic regression; urbanization.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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