Bangladesh 1993-1994 Demographic and Health ... - Measure DHS

fully vaccinated, a vast improvement from less than 20 percent in a 1989 survey. Nonetheless, a largeproportion of children obtain one or two vaccinations but fail to complete the full course. If dropout ratescould be reduced, the level of full coverage could be improved still further.Childhood Health. The BDHS provides some data on childhood illness and treatment. Approximatelyone in four children underage three had a respiratory illness in the two weeks before the survey. Of these,over one-fourth were taken to a health facility for treatment. Thirteen percent of children under three werereported to have had diarrhea in the two weeks preceeding the survey. The fact that almost three-quarters ofchildren with diarrhea received some sort of oral rehydration treatment (fluid made from an ORS packet,recommended home fluid, or increased fluids) is encouraging. Also notable is the fact that half of childrenunder age three received a Vitamin A capsule in the six months prior to the survey.Breastfeedlng Practices. The BDHS results document an exceptionally long duration of breastfeeding,with a median duration of over 35 months. Although breastfeeding has beneficial effects on both thechild and the mother, BDHS data indicate that supplementation of breastfeeding with other liquids and foodsoccurs too early in Bangladesh. For example, among newborns less than two months of age, one-quarter we realready receiving supplemental foods or liquids. One in ten of these very young babies are given infantformula. Among children age 2-3 months, about half were exclusively breastfed and half were being givensupplements.Maternal Health Care. BDHS data point to several areas regarding maternal health care in whichimprovements could be made. Results show that most Bangladeshi mothers do not receive antenatal care.Among births that occurred in the three years before the survey, almost three-quarters (73 percent) receivedno antenatal care during pregnancy. Moreover, 96 percent of births in Bangladesh are delivered at home and60 percent are assisted by traditional birth attendants. Less than 10 percent of births are assisted by medicallytrained personnel. Proper medical attention during pregnancy and hygienic conditions during delivery canreduce the risk of complications and infections that can cause death or serious illness for either the motheror the newborn. Somewhat more encouraging is the fact that tetanus toxoid coverage is relatively widespreadin Bangladesh. For two-thirds of births, the mothers received a tetanus toxoid injection during pregnancy.XXV