Determinants of Selected NCD Biomarkers of Women in Bangladesh: A Multinomial Logit Analysis Using BDHS Dataset

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a significant public health concern in developing countries like Bangladesh, where women face an elevated susceptibility to them due to the confluence of various risk factors. This study delves into the socioeconomic determinants of women’s health focusing on selected NCD biomarkers (Body Mass Index (BMI) and blood pressure measurement), utilizing the 2017-2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS). Understanding the complex socioeconomic determinants and dynamics of women’s health in Bangladesh, especially from the NCDs’ perspective, is essential given the critical role that women’s health plays in societal welfare and socioeconomic advancement, particularly in the face of rapid economic growth and demographic shifts. The multinomial logit analysis shows that wealth, age, and women’s education were significant factors in all BMI categories, whereas employment status was significant only in the case of obesity. Being employed as opposed to being unemployed lowered the probability of being in higher BMI categories, whilst age, wealth, and higher education levels raised that likelihood. Age emerged to be a significant predictor of hypertension, with older individuals more likely to be hypertensive. Employment negatively impacted hypertension, while higher wealth slightly increased the likelihood of normal blood pressure. Given that older and wealthier women are predisposed to overweight, obese, and hypertensive, and considering the advantageous impact of employment in reducing hypertension risks, public health policies should focus on age-specific interventions to manage and prevent hypertension and obesity among older women. Moreover, efforts to promote health education and lifestyle modifications among wealthier individuals, enhance workplace wellness programs to leverage the protective effects of employment on health, and increase educational initiatives to raise awareness about healthy living and preventive healthcare are warranted. These targeted strategies can address the socioeconomic determinants of health, improving NCD biomarker outcomes for women across different age groups and economic backgrounds in Bangladesh.