The objective of this study is to measure nutritional insecurity of
households in post-cyclone period, and explores the role of different socioeconomic
factors that influence such nutritional insecurity. A questionnaire survey
was carried out to collect data at household level with 331 out of 778 households
in the central coast of Bangladesh, and relevant descriptive and inferential
statistics are used to analyze data. The findings of the present study reveal that
post-cyclone situation significantly increases household food insecurity in its
entire dimension. Of the three dimensions of food security, nutritional insecurity
persists for a long period after the cyclone. Nutritional insecurity is particularly
prevalent among the fishermen, female household workers (maid servants) and
Islanders. Based on the findings, the present study argues that such nutritional
insecurity is prevalent in the rural areas of Bangladesh particularly in coastal
setting, and situation worsens in post-cyclone periods. Therefore, this study
advocates for coordinated disaster risk reduction programme including nutritional
security, child and maternal health and care giving education, improvement of
health and sanitation status especially targeting the vulnerable areas and groups
during post-cyclone period