Extending supplementary feeding for children younger than 5 years with moderate acute malnutrition leads to lower relapse rates.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) have a high rate of relapse and death in the year following recovery. In this pilot study, we evaluate the long-term benefits of an extended course of nutritional therapy for children with MAM.

Methods

Rural Malawian children 6 to 59 months old with MAM, defined as a weight-for-height z score (WHZ) between -2 and -3, were provided supplementary feeding for a fixed duration of 12 weeks. The children were then studied for 12 months to assess long-term nutritional status, and compared with children initially treated only until they first reached WHZ > -2.

Results

Compared with children treated until they reached WHZ > -2, children treated for 12 weeks were more likely to remain well nourished (71% vs 63%, P = 0.0

SUBMITTER: Trehan I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4380557 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature