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  • Mostafa_et_al-2018-Acta_Paediatrica

    Rights statement: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Mostafa, I. , Naila, N. N., Mahfuz, M. , Roy, M. , Faruque, A. S. and Ahmed, T. (2018), Children living in the slums of Bangladesh face risks from unsafe food and water and stunted growth is common. Acta Paediatr, 107: 1230-1239. doi:10.1111/apa.14281 which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apa.14281/abstract This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.

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Children living in the slums of Bangladesh face risks from unsafe food and water and stunted growth is common

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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  • Ishita Mostafa
  • Nurun Nahar Naila
  • Mustafa Mahfuz
  • Manoj Kumar Roy
  • Abu S.G. Faruque
  • Tahmeed Ahmed
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>07/2018
<mark>Journal</mark>Acta Paediatrica: Nurturing the Child
Issue number7
Volume107
Number of pages10
Pages (from-to)1230-1239
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date20/02/18
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Aim: This study investigated the microbial quality of food and water consumed by children in four slums in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, together with the associated risk factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study took place from December 2015 to May 2016 and focused on 360 children under the age of five. We recorded household food security, namely adequate food for a healthy life, socio-economic and nutritional status, hygiene and feeding practices. Food and water samples were analysed.

Results: We found that 63% of the children were malnourished and 58% were stunted. Yeast and moulds were detected in 86% of the food samples and coliforms in 73%. All the water samples were contaminated with faecal coliforms, yeasts and moulds and Staphylococcus. Food insecurity affected 83% of households. Children were twice as likely to be malnourished if they were born with a perceived low birth weight or their mothers did not wash their hands with soap after cleaning the child’s bottom following defecation. Exclusively breast-fed children were less likely to develop malnutrition.

Conclusion: Children from the Dhaka slums were frequently stunted and malnourished and contaminated food and water was common. Integrated efforts are essential to create public awareness about hygiene.

Bibliographic note

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Mostafa, I. , Naila, N. N., Mahfuz, M. , Roy, M. , Faruque, A. S. and Ahmed, T. (2018), Children living in the slums of Bangladesh face risks from unsafe food and water and stunted growth is common. Acta Paediatr, 107: 1230-1239. doi:10.1111/apa.14281 which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apa.14281/abstract This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.