Treating high-risk moderate acute malnutrition using therapeutic food compared with nutrition counseling (Hi-MAM Study): a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is a lack of consensus on what is the most appropriate treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM).

Objectives

We aimed to determine if provision of ready-to-use-therapeutic food (RUTF) and antibiotics to "high-risk" MAM (HR-MAM) children in addition to nutritional counseling would result in higher recovery and less deterioration than nutrition counseling alone.

Methods

At the 11 intervention clinics, HR-MAM children were given RUTF and amoxicillin along with standard nutrition counseling, for 2-12 wk. All others received 6 wk of nutrition counseling alone. HR-MAM was defined as midupper arm circumference (MUAC) <11.9 cm, weight-for-age z score (WAZ) <-3.5, mother not the main caregiver, or a child <2 y old not being breastfed. Outcomes were compar

SUBMITTER: Lelijveld N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8921644 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature