TITLE:
Outcomes of Severely Malnourished Children Aged 6 - 59 Months on Outpatient Management Program in Kitui County Hospital, Kenya
AUTHORS:
Dorothy Mbaya, Lucy Kivuti Bitok, Anna K. Karani, Boniface Osano, Michael Habtu
KEYWORDS:
Default, Outcomes, Recovery Rate, Severe Acute Malnutrition, Weight Gain
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.5 No.4,
December
25,
2015
ABSTRACT: Severe acute malnutrition
is a widely prevalent problem in developing countries and a major cause of
morbidity and mortality. Traditionally,
children with severe acute malnutrition were rehabilitated within inpatient services. Advent of ready to use
therapeutic food made it possible to treat majority of these children in their
homes. However, there is limited data about the outcomes of the program.
Objectives: To determine the outcomes (recovery, default, mean weight gain and
non-response rates) of severely malnourished children aged 6 - 59 months
enrolled in outpatient therapeutic program at Kitui County Hospital. Methodology:
A prospective longitudinal study design was carried out for one month. Hundred and
four (104) children with SAM were recruited in the study. Anthropometric
measurements, physical examination and appetite test of the children were
conducted on a weekly basis for 28 days. Descriptive analysis was conducted
using means, frequency and proportions. Paired t test was computed for mean
weight gain and mid-upper arm circumference between admission and subsequent visits. Results: The findings of the
study revealed that the recovery rate was 73.3%, weight gain rate of 5.1 g/kg/day, defaulter rate was 2.9% and non-response rate was 13.9% (WHZ = -3SD).
Mean weight increased from 6.8 kg on the 1st visit to 7.5 kg in the
4th visit (P = 0.000) and the meanmid-upper arm circumferenceincreased from 11.1
cm at admission to 11.9 cm at 4th visit (P = 0.000). Conclusion: The
recovery and weight gain rates were below the global acceptable SPHERE of
minimum standards (recovery rate > 75% and weight gain rate > 8 g/kg/day).
The defaulter rate was within the acceptable international standards (