Socio-Demographic Determinants of Maternal Undernutrition: A Cross-Sectional Study of Gosaba Block, South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal, India Ghosh Shovan1, Kayal Ananya2 1Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Diamond Harbour Women’s University, Sarisha, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, Email: ghoshshovan.dhwu@gmail.com 2Research Scholar (Corresponding Author), Department of Geography, Diamond Harbour Women’s University, Sarisha, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, Email: kananya938@gmail.com, respectively Online Published on 09 February, 2024. Abstract This present study aims to determine the nutritional status of mothers whose present children are under five years of age and also identify the determinant factors of maternal underweight. Based on the Simple Random Sampling method a cross-sectional study was conducted among 292 mothers in the Gosaba block of South 24 Parganas district of Indian Sundarban. Data was collected by using a structured questionnaire and face to face interview method. Respondent’s body weight and height were also measured to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a conventional anthropometric measurement used to determine the nutritional status of adults. Binary logistic regression has also been used to identify various socio-demographic determinants of underweight. The study expands that, about 16 per cent mothers are underweight, 20 percent are overweight and only 4 per cent are obese. From the result of binary logistic regression, it is seen that religion (95% CL: 1.014-4.184; p<0.05), cast [(95% CL: 0.260-1.061; p<0.1) (95% CL: 0.132-1.139; p<0.1)], family size (95% CL: 0.269-1.107; p<0.1), the present age of respondents (95% CL: 0.986-4.351; p<0.05), total no of children (95% CL: 0.239-1.179; p<0.1) are significantly associated with their underweight state. Top Keywords Nutritional status, Anthropometric measurement, BMI, Underweight. Top |