STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF FOOD CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOUR IN SELECTED AREAS OF BANGLADESH: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Abstract

The present study applied different statistical tools to identify the socio-economic and demographic factors affecting child malnutrition, food consumption and nutrients intake pattern of the households and to suggest measures to improve the present dietary intake pattern towards food security of the rural households in Bangladesh. The study was carried out on all households randomly selected from two villages from Dinajpur as a rice surplus district and all the households of two villages from Bagerhat as a rice deficit district using a three-stage random sampling scheme. Information about socio-demographic and economic characteristics of the households was collected by using a structured questionnaire. Food consumption data were collected through 24 hours recall and partly by weighing method. Height, weight and mid arm circumference of all the children under 6 years of age from the study population were measured using standardized instruments.