Effect of ready-to-use therapeutic foods on time to recovery among children with severe acute malnutrition in Ethiopia: a prospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The therapeutic feeding unit (TFU) provides comprehensive inpatient clinical care for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in three stages: stabilization, transition, and rehabilitation. During the transitional and rehabilitation phases, children receive either F-100 or ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF). Although both promote weight gain, RUTF is more energy dense than F-100. There is limited and contrasting evidence regarding their effect on recovery time. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of RUTF on time to recovery among SAM children aged 6-59 months admitted to the TFU in Ethiopia.

Methods

Health Facility-based prospective cohort study was conducted among 476 children treated in three hospitals and four health centers in th

SUBMITTER: Abebe A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10321003 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature