This study examines aspects of women’s empowerment related to the nutritional status of under-five children in Bangladesh, including their age-appropriate food intake and access to healthcare during acute respiratory tract infection (ARI).

Three waves of the Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS) data (2011, 2014, 2017-18) were pulled and utilized to construct three domains of the survey-based women’s empowerment index, such as social independence, intrinsic agency, and instrumental agency. The Height-for-Age Z (HAZ), Weight-for-Age Z (WAZ), and Weight-for-Height Z (WHZ) scores were used to measure the nutritional status of offspring. Two variables were generated to measure age-appropriate food intake and treatment-seeking from medically trained providers (MTPs) at the commencement of ARI. Generalized structural equation modelling was performed to develop pathways between women’s empowerment and children’s nutritional status.

Data was collected from eight administrative divisions in Bangladesh.

A total of 18706 married women aged 15-45 years residing with their husbands and having at least one under-five child.

Women’s social independence was positively associated with HAZ [0.25 (95% CI: 0.22, 0.28)], WAZ [0.21 (0.18,0.24)], WHZ [0.06 (0.02,0.09)]. Intrinsic agency positively influenced HAZ [0.03 (0.02,0.04)] and WAZ [0.02 (0.01,0.02)]. Both social independence and intrinsic agency promoted appropriate feeding, while instrumental agency had a negative effect on food consumption [-0.0026 (–0.005, –0.0002)]. Both age-appropriate food intake and seeking treatment from MTPs during recent ARI episodes improved nutritional outcomes of offspring.

Maternal social independence and intrinsic agency enhance the nutritional status, food consumption, and healthcare access of offspring in Bangladesh.