Outcomes of Severely Malnourished Children Aged 6 - 59 Months on Outpatient Management Program in Kitui County Hospital, Kenya ()
Received 16 November 2015; accepted 21 December 2015; published 25 December 2015
1. Introduction
Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is defined by an extremely low weight for height, by visible severe wasting (marasmus), and/or by the presence of nutritional oedema (kwashiorkor). SAM or wasting is measured by one or more of the following criteria: Weight-for-height (WFH) ≤ −3 Z-scores; Weight-for-height less than 70% of the median; Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) less than 115 mm and Presence of bilateral pitting oedema [1] .
Worldwide nearly 24 million children (younger than 5 years) experience SAM and 19 million severely wasted children are living in developing countries. It is common in sub-Saharan Africa, with approximately 3% of children less than five years affected at any one time. It is associated with several hundred thousand child deaths each year [2] [3] . An estimated 53% of the preventable causes of death in children less than five years are attributed to malnutrition [4] . It also has negative implications for morbidity, long-term growth, cognitive and behavioural development, and work capacity among survivors [5] .
The outpatient therapeutic program (OTP) offers services to severely malnourished children age 6 - 59 months. Until recently, the management of SAM has been limited to hospital cares with limited coverage [6] . OTP brings the service of management of SAM closer to the community by making services available at decentralized health facilities (primary health care units) in different resource limited countries [7] . It is operational at health centers and health posts and offers the lifesaving treatments with ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF), usually Plumpy’Nut. In addition to Plumpy’Nut, severely malnourished children are provided with routine medications such as de-wormers, antibiotics, vitamin A, folic acid and measles vaccine. Only children who have appetite with Plumpy’Nut and those who don’t have medical complications are eligible to the OTP [8] .
Practitioners and World Health Organization (WHO) experts endorse community-based management for uncomplicated SAM while still advising that children who are severely malnourished and have medical complications, such as severe oedema, should be treated in an appropriate health facility [9] . However, two trial studies comparing children treated in outpatient care after one week of stabilization in inpatient setting against full inpatient care have shown outcome discrepancies. The first trial in Malawi reported better results in outpatients than in inpatients (recovery: 72% vs 49%) probably related to more infections in inpatient care and mortality rate was 5.4% in inpatient and 3.0% for home-based therapy [10] . The second trial in Bangladesh reported the reverse (recovery: 67% vs 86%) but no food supplement was provided to outpatients and mortality rate was 3.5% in inpatient, 5% in day care and 3.5% at home (after one week of day care) [11] .
Although the prevalence of malnutrition in Kenya especially Eastern province including Kitui County is still high, the outcome data on outpatient therapeutic program of severe acute malnourished children is still unclear. This study, therefore, sought to establish the outcomes of outpatient therapeutic program among children aged 6 - 59 months with SAM in Kitui County Hospital.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Setting
The study was carried out in Kitui County Hospital. It has a catchment population of 75,000 and serves as the main referral hospital in the Southern part of Kitui County. It has a bed capacity of 200 beds and 44 cots and an outpatient department with an OTP. Patients enrolled to OTP are detected from maternal and child health (MCH) clinics after routine screening, those referred from in-patient of the hospital or referred by community health workers (CHWs).
2.2. Study Design
A short prospective longitudinal study was conducted among children aged 6 - 59 months with SAM enrolled under OTP. Each child was followed for 4 weeks on a weekly basis.
2.3. Study Population and Sampling Technique
Children aged 6 - 59 months enrolled in OTP were recruited into the study. Children with poor appetite, edema and medical complications were excluded. SAM was determined by WHO reference classification W/H < −3 Z-score, MUAC < 11.5 cm, a good appetite, no medical complications and no severe edema (do not have moderate or severe edema).There were 104 children consecutively recruited to the study as they came to OTP. The
sample size was calculated using Israel [12] formula
; where n = the sample size, N = the population, e = margin of error (5%).
2.4. Data Collection Tools and Data Quality Control
The anthropometric measurements (weight, height/Length and left mid upper arm circumference) were obtained using a follow up checklist in a private room within the OTP clinic. In addition, physical examination and appetite test were conducted. The anthropometric measurements were conducted at the onset then weekly for 4 weeks.
Research assistants were trained on data collection tools and procedures of the study before the actual study commenced. Quality assurance was maintained through monitoring of data collection activities on daily and weekly basis by the principal investigator. The weighing machines were calibrated for validity and standardization of reporting was ensured.
2.5. Outcome Measures
The main outcomes in the study were recovered (cured), defaulted, failure to respond and mean weight gain.
Recovered was defined when children attained target W/H -2 Z-score, MUAC > 11.5 cm and no edema for two consecutive visits and has attained discharge criteria.
Defaulter referred to a child that was absent for two consecutive weeks and confirmed that the patient is not dead by home visit.
Non-respondent is a patient that has not reached discharge criteria after staying under OTP intervention for 28 days.
Mean weight gain is the difference between two weights taken on admission and on 4th visit divided by the number of intervening days; and then by the mid-point of the two weights. The units of mean weight gain were grams per kilogram per day.
2.6. Data Management and Analysis
After data collection, cleaning and validation was done and then entered into a Statistical Package format (using SPSS version 20.0) ready for analysis. Descriptive analysis using means, frequency and proportions was computed. Paired t test (P < 0.05) was computed for continuous variables (mean weight gain and MUAC) between admission and subsequent visits.
2.7. Ethical Considerations
Study approval was sought from the Ethics and Research Committees of the Kenyatta National Hospital/Uni- versity of Nairobi (KNH/UON) and administrative permission from the Kitui County Hospital. Voluntary informedwritten consent was obtained from all mothers/guardians of the child. Confidentiality was maintained while handling participants’ information.
3. Results
3.1. Characteristics of the Children
We recruited 104 children aged 6 - 56 months, 44 (42.3%) were males and 60 (57.7%) were female children. As shown in Table 1, the highest age group were those aged 6 - 12 months 36 (34.6%) followed by 13 - 18 months 29 (27.9%).The mean age of the children was18 months. About a quarter 28 (26.9%) of the children were first born.
3.2. Outcomes of the Outpatient Therapeutic Program
Of the 104 children enrolled into the study 3 (2.9%) defaulted. Children with WHZ −2SD and above were classified as recovered while below −2SD of WHZ were considered as not recovered. Out of the 101 children who were followed for four visits 74 (73.3%) recovered and 27 (26.7%) didn’t recover. Fourteen children (13.9%) failed to respond (WHZ = −3SD) and only 7 (6.9%) had attained full nutritional recovery (WHZ = −1SD). More than half 55 (54.5%) of the children had WHZ of −2SD by fourth visit. The overall mean weight gain was 5.12 grams. About half of the children 49 (48.5%) and 47 (46.5%) had gained mean weight of 5 to 10 g/kg/day and <5 g/kg/day respectively. However, there were only 5 (5.0%) who gained mean weight of >10 g/kg/day (Table 2).
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Table 1. Characteristics of the children.
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Table 2. Outcomes of the outpatient therapeutic program.
3.3. Trend and Comparison of Mean Weight and MUAC
Figure 1 shows the mean trend of weight and MUAC among children enrolled in the outpatient management program for 4 weeks duration. The figure shows that the mean weight and MUAC increased over the four weeks of follow up till the 4th visit.
Paired samples t test was computed to determine the mean differences of weight and MUAC between the visits (Table 3). There was significant differences between the mean weights of 1st visit and 2nd visit (P = 0.000), 1st visit and 3rd visit (P = 0.000) as well as 1st visit and 4th visit (P = 0.000). Likewise, the mean MUAC was significantly higher between 1st visit and 3rd visit (P = 0.000) as well as between 1st visit and 4th visit (P = 0.000). However, the mean MUAC between 1st visit and 2nd visit was not significant (P = 0.143).
4. Discussion
The recovery rate in this study (73.3%) was lower than the international standards which set the lower threshold at 75%. The rate is lower than findings from studies carried out in Southern Ethiopia which shows 87% [13] and in Southern Malawi where the recovery rate was 89% [14] . However, it was higher than the study done in Nairobi which reported 58% [15] and in Tigray Northern Ethiopia (61.78%) [16] . These discrepancies could be as a result of differences in adherence to optimal management of children under OTP across regions, low frequency of feeding per day and sharing of the Plumpy’Nut with other members of the household which is a likely predictor of poor recovery of children treated at home. It was reported that sharing of RUTF with other family members, mostly children, was justified by social norms favoring sharing of food, a shortage of food in the household, the good taste of RUTF and its perceived good treatment properties [17] .
In addition, genetic variations among SAM children may play a role in the recovery rate. Results from several ethnic groups (Bagandan, Peruvian, Chilean, South African Coloured) show that previously malnourished children do not attain, at least for several years, the weight, height, and bone age as children of the same ethnic background but of a higher social class [18] [19] . Considering that children from a higher social class may be nutritionally above average.
The overall defaulter rate (2.9%) was well within the minimum international standard (<15%). This figure is lower as compared to similar studies conducted on RUTF based therapeutic feeding programs in Maradi-Niger [20] , Darfur-Sudan [21] , Bedawacho-Ethiopia and Arbegoba-Ethiopia [22] [23] . This may signify that the
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Figure 1. Trend of mean weight and MUAC between admission and consecutive visits.
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Table 3. Comparison of mean weight and MUAC between first and consecutive visits.
mothers/guardians in the study area are aware about the consequences of defaulting from the program. It could also be attributed to shortage of food among the community/households which may compel them to attend the outpatient program for Plumpy’Nut/RUTF.
The mean weight gain of 5.12 g/kg/day in this study was substantially less than the predicted rate based on the international standards which recommends weight gain of greater than or equal to 8 g/kg/day. Yet it was higher compared to a similar study conducted in Nairobi which was 3.79/kg/day [15] and was comparable to a study conducted in Tigray Northern Ethiopia (5.24 g/kg/day) [16] . However, it was lower than in studies carried out by Chane et al. [24] (10.1 g/kg/day), by Hossain et al. [25] (10 g/kg/day) and by Gebremichael et al. [26] in Ayder referral in Ethiopia (10.7 g/kg/day). These discrepancies could have been due to differences in causes of malnutrition across various settings. In addition, the weights may not be taken on all visits and yet the RUTF should be given according to the body weight.
Even though the mean weight gain (P < 0.000) and mean MUAC (P < 0.000) were significantly different on admission and at 4th visit, only (6.0%) had attained nutritional recovery rate (defined as a WHZ equal to or greater than −1SD). About half (48.5%) of the children had moderate to good mean weight gain (5 to 10 g/kg/day), 46.5% had poor mean weight gain (<5 g/kg/day) and only 5.0% had good mean weight gain (>10 g/kg/day). However, the findings are higher compared to study done in India by Patel et al. [27] during home based rehabilitation that reported only (11.5%) children achieved weight gain of more than 5 gm/kg/day, while (89.5%) children had weight gain of less than 5 gm/kg/day.
5. Conclusion
The recovery and weight gain rates in this study were below the acceptable standards of Global SPHERE. However, the defaulter rate was within the acceptable international standards.The findings highlight the need to enhance implementation of essential nutrition action approach during management of severe malnutrition in outpatient program.
Acknowledgements
The funding is from the Linked-Strengthening Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Research Training in Kenya. The grant is linked to Partnership for Innovative Medical Education in Kenya (PRIME-K). The project described was supported by Award Number 5R24TW008907 from the US National Institutes of Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the US National Institutes of Health. The authors would also like to sincerely appreciate all the study participants for their time and willingness to participate. The authors also give special thanks to the medical superintendent, data collectors and all staff members of Kitui County Hospital for their cooperation during the collection of data for this study and allowing us to conduct this research.
Limitation
During malnutrition low hemoglobin and serum albumin concentrations are common but due to financial constraints the study did not make provision for taking blood samples for biochemical information, therefore only anthropometric measurement were used.
Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
NOTES
*Corresponding author.