Role of Maternal Empowerment in Addressing Child Malnutrition: Evidence from Asian Developing Countries

Background: Malnutrition among expectant mothers in underdeveloped areas is abundant and a serious public health concern. This study examines how maternal empowerment affects nutritional outcomes among under-five children in developing Asian nations. Objective: With an emphasis on nutritional outcomes, including stunting, wasting, and underweight, the main objective of this study is to investigate the connection between mother empowerment and child malnutrition and explore how better child health in developing Asian nations can be achieved through empowering mothers. Methods: Using Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data of ten emerging Asian countries from three regions of Asia, this study evaluates maternal empowerment using the composite maternal empowerment index (CMEI) and examines how it relates to children's nutritional health. For the assessment of the significance of the association between maternal empowerment and child health outcomes, statistical analysis was conducted. Results: Our results indicated that maternal empowerment and child health have a statistically significant relationship, especially regarding a reduction in the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight conditions in children. At the same time, maternal education showed a significant role in reducing malnutrition in children in all three regions of Asia. Conclusion: In conclusion, developing Asian nations require empowering women. Also, it is essential to initiate nutrition programs, extension education, and synergistic working models that are especially suited to rural women. By strengthening mothers' roles in promoting their children's health, these initiatives can help solve the widespread problem of child malnutrition.