Skip to main content

Treatment outcome and associated factors of severe acute malnutrition among 6–59 months old children in Debre Markos and Finote Selam hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Background

In Ethiopia, the health sector has increased its efforts to enhance good nutritional practices through health education, treatment of extremely malnourished children and provision of micronutrients for mothers and children. But, the poor nutritional status of women and children continues to be still a major public health problem.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess the treatment outcome and associated factors of severe acute malnutrition among a total of 253 children age 6–59 months old. Severe acute malnutrition registration logbook and patient charts were used as a source of data. Data were entered in to Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. To identify associated factors, Cox proportional hazard analysis was computed and p-value <0.05 at 95% confidence interval was considered as statistically significant.

Results

The recovery rate was 77.9% and the overall median recovery time was 11 days. Those children age from 24 to 35 months had 34% lower probability of recovery from SAM compared to 6–11 months old children (AHR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.35–0.89). Children whose ages from 36 to 59 months had 47% lower probability of recovery from SAM compared to 6–11 months old children (AHR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.31–0.91). HIV negative children had 2.48 times higher probability of getting recovered from SAM compared to HIV positive children (AHR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.23–5.01). Children who didn’t take folic acid supplement had 65% lower probability of recovery from SAM compared to children who took folic acid supplement (AHR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.14–0.89).

Conclusions

This study found that recovery rate of 6–59 months old children treated for severe acute malnutrition in therapeutics units was in acceptable range based on the WHO recommendation. Folic acid supplementation and screening for HIV status should be promoted at all levels of health facilities during early age.

Peer Review reports

Background

Annually, severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is responsible for the death of 3.6 million under 5 years of old children and 140.5 million Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) of children in the same age groups. When we consider from economic perspective, there is a need to break the cycle of malnutrition and poverty as estimates suggest that failing to address them results in a 2.3% loss in national gross domestic product (GDP) [1].

Severe acute malnutrition affects nearly 20 million pre-school age children, mostly in Sub-Saharan African and South East Asia region. Worldwide, malnutrition is a significant factor in approximately one third of the nearly 8 million deaths in under 5 years of old children [2].

Malnutrition has a dramatic impact on childhood mortality still in Sub-Saharan African countries including Ethiopia [3]. Previous studies conducted in Ethiopia from Mekele city of Tigray [4] and University of Gondar Hospital [5] found that unacceptable high case fatality rate of 12.8 and 18.4% respectively.

In Ethiopia, the health sector has increased its efforts to enhance good nutritional practices through health education, treatment of extremely malnourished children and provision of micronutrients for mothers and children. But, the poor nutritional status of women and children continues to be a series problem still. An estimated 312,211 children required treatment for SAM in 2012G.C.The near complete failure of the 2012 February–May rains resulted in increased food insecurity and malnutrition in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region, part of Amhara and Oromiya Regions [6].

Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) 2016 report showed that 38, 10 and 24% of under 5 years of age children in Ethiopia were stunted, wasted and underweight respectively. In the Amhara region, 46% of under 5 years of age children were stunted which was the highest in the country [7].

Even though malnutrition is one of the public health problems in Ethiopia, limited information is available on inpatient treatment outcome of SAM and associated factors in Debre Markos and Finote Selam Hospitals. In general, evaluating and auditing the treatment outcome and mortality rates of malnourished children at therapeutic centers are very useful for countries to identify the gaps and measures the effectiveness of center based management of severe acute malnutrition for future to develop best interventional approach. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess treatment outcome and associated factors of SAM recovery among 6–59 months old children in Debre Markos and Finote Selam Hospitals.

Methods

Study setting and participants

Institution based retrospective cohort study was conducted from April 20/2016 to April 24/2016 in Debre Markos Referral and Finote Selam District Hospitals, located 295KM and 387KM Northwest of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Approximately, 3.5 million and 100,000 people were served by these two hospitals respectively. The total numbers of children served in their catchment areas were 450,800. The study populations were severely malnourished children age 6–59 months old admitted with SAM in therapeutic feeding centers of Debre Markos Referral and Finote Selam District Hospitals from April 2014 to April 2016.

Study participants consist of all 253 eligible (out of total 321 severely malnourished children age 6–59 months old admitted in therapeutic feeding centers of Debre Markos Referral and Finote Selam District hospitals) from April 2014 to April 2016. A total of 2 year records of SAM inpatient cases in the two hospitals were 321 cases and categorized separately from those in Debre Markos Referral hospital (182) cases and those records in Finote selam hospital (139) cases. But only 139 cases from Debre Markos Referral hospital and 114 cases from Finote selam hospital had complete data charts for this study. Finally 253 severe acute malnutrition cases from both hospitals were taken as study participants.

Admission criteria for 6 months to 18 years old children in the therapeutic units were as follows: WFH < 70% or WFH less than −3 Z-score or WFL < 70% or WFL less than −3 Z-score or MUAC <110 mm with length > 65 cm or presence of bilateral pitting edema/complication. The discharge criteria for 6 months to 18 years old children in the therapeutic units were as follows: W/L > =85% or W/H > =85% on more than one occasion (2 days for in-patients, 2 weeks for out-patients) and no oedema for 10 days (In-patient) or 14 days (out-patient) [8].

Inclusion criteria

WFH < 70% or WFH less than −3 Z-score or WFL < 70% or WFL less than −3 Z-score or MUAC <110 mm with length > 65 cm or presence of bilateral pitting edema/complication treated from January 2014 to January 2016 in therapeutics feeding centers of selected hospitals.

Exclusion criteria

SAM Children treated at outpatient therapeutic units or inpatient SAM cases who had in complete data charts.

Operational definitions

Recovery is reaching >80% of nutritional median WFH and in patient treatment outcome logbook declared as improved or recovered [8].

Defaulters- are those patients who leaves from treatment unit against medical advice and declared as defaulter or against in the treatment logbook [8].

Death- refers to the patient that has die while he/she is in the therapeutic units and declared as death in the treatment logbook [8].

$$ \mathrm{Recovery}\ \mathrm{rate}=\mathrm{No}\ \mathrm{of}\ \mathrm{patient}\ \mathrm{discharged}\ \mathrm{for}\ \mathrm{recovery}/\mathrm{Total}\ \mathrm{No}\ \mathrm{of}\ \mathrm{exits} $$
$$ \mathrm{Defaulter}\ \mathrm{rate}=\mathrm{No}\ \mathrm{of}\ \mathrm{true}\ \mathrm{defaulters}/\mathrm{Total}\ \mathrm{No}\ \mathrm{of}\ \mathrm{exits} $$
$$ \mathrm{Death}\ \mathrm{rate}=\mathrm{No}\ \mathrm{of}\ \mathrm{patient}\ \mathrm{died}\ \mathrm{in}\ \mathrm{the}\ \mathrm{programme}/\mathrm{Total}\ \mathrm{No}\ \mathrm{of}\ \mathrm{exits} $$
$$ \mathrm{Average}\ \mathrm{length}\ \mathrm{of}\ \mathrm{stay}=\mathrm{Sum}\;\mathrm{of}\ \mathrm{length}\ \mathrm{of}\ \mathrm{stay}/\mathrm{No}\ \mathrm{of}\;6\hbox{-} 59\;\mathrm{months}\ \mathrm{cured} $$

Censor = refers to defaulter from treatment, transfer out, those who died with indirect and direct causes and those cases not known the result at the end of the study period.

The event (outcome of interest) = was consider to be recovery of severely malnourished children while in the therapeutic units.

Data collection

Data were collected from SAM registration Logbook and medical record charts by using checklist. Data collection checklist cross checked with pre-established known source [3] to address the study variables. Data were collected by nurses who took training on the management of SAM. Data collectors were trained for 1 day and daily supervised by investigators.

Data processing and analysis

Data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and analysis was done by using SPSS Version 20 software. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression were used to assess the association of independent variables with time to recovery. First bivariate Cox regression analysis computed for each predictor variable with time to recovery. Then variables associated with time to recovery at 0.2 significant levels were included in the multivariate Cox proportional Hazard model. Hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CI was used to identify predictor variables. Variables which had p-value < 0.05 were considered as significant.

Results

Socio-demographic characteristics

More than half (54.8%) of the children enrolled into the study were females and 39.9% were in the age group of 6–11 months with median age of 13 months. The majority (83.8%) of severely malnourished children were from rural area (Table 1).

Table 1 Socio-demographic characteristics of children 6–59 month old in the therapeutic units of Debre Markos Referral and Finote Selam District Hospitals, 2016

Medication provision, major co-infection, and vitamin supplementation in the therapeutics centers

Among admitted children 64.9% of them had co-infection and the most common co-infections were diarrhea (28.2%), pneumonia (23.3%), anemia (18.4%) and tuberculosis (11.7%). The most commonly prescribed drugs were amoxaciline (28.1%) and ampiciline (16.6%). In the therapeutics centers, 82.6% and 83.8% of admitted children with SAM received vitamin A and folic acid supplementations respectively (Table 2).

Table 2 Medication provision, major co-infection and mineral supplementation in the therapeutics centers of Debre Markos Referral and Finote Selam District Hospitals, 2016

Treatment outcome of SAM by therapeutics food provision in the treatment centers

The most commonly used therapeutics products in the management process were F-75 (64.5%) and followed by F-100(27.4%). Among children who were taking f-75, 79.5%(128) were recovered and 6.8%(11) were died, but among who were taking the f-100 the recovery was 72.8%(51) and death were 4.2%(3) (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Treatment outcome of SAM by provision of therapeutic foods in the therapeutic units of Debre Markos Referral and Finote Selam District Hospitals, 2016

Treatment outcome of SAM by type of diagnosis in the treatment centers

The predominant (75.5%) form of malnutrition in this study was marasmus. Among children diagnosed as kwashiorkor, 74.5%(38) were recovered, death rate 5.9% and defaulter rate was 13.7% [7] (Table 3).

Table 3 Treatment outcome of SAM by type of diagnosis in the therapeutic centers of Debre Markos Referral and Finote Selam District Hospitals, 2016

Kaplan-Meir survival estimates for sever acute malnutrition recovery time and type of health facility

The median survival time of recovery for children admitted in Debre Markos Referral Hospital was 11 days with 95%CI (10.061–11.939) and in Finote Selam District Hospital; it was 11 days with 95%CI (9.849–12.151). The overall median survival time for this study was 11 days with 95%CI (10.471–11.529) (Table 4).

Table 4 Kaplan-Meir survival estimates for sever acute malnutrition recovery time with type of health facility at the therapeutics centers Debre Markos Referral and Finote Selam District Hospitals, 2016

Hazard function of type of health facility with recovery time

The log rank survival curves of severely malnourished children admitted in the referral and district hospitals cross each other showed that there was no significant difference of hazard risk between severely malnourished children admitted in the two hospitals (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Log rank survival estimates for severely malnourished children with type of health facility with time to recovery in the therapeutic units of Debre Markos Referral and Finote Selam District Hospitals, 2016

Treatment outcome compared to sphere project value/international standard of severe acute malnutrition in treatment centers

Out of 253 children whose records were reviewed, 197 (77.9%) were recovered, 14(5.5%) died during treatment, 31(12.3%) defaulted and 11(4.3%) transferred from treatment centers. The average length of stay in the hospitals was 11.1 days (Table 5). These results of treatment outcome of severe acute malnutrition in therapeutics units were in acceptable range compared to the SPHERE project reference values [9].

Table 5 Performance indicator values of inpatient therapeutic feeding centers of Debre Markos Referral and Finote Selam District Hospitals as compared to sphere project reference values/international standard, 2016

Factors associated with recovery time of severely malnourished children

During the bivariate Cox regression analysis; age group, place of residence, HIV status, presence of co-infection, type of diagnosis and folic acid supplementation were significantly associated with recovery time of SAM (Table 6). However during the multivariate Cox regression analysis; age group, HIV status and folic acid supplementation were significantly associated with recovery time of SAM (Table 7).

Table 6 Bivariate analysis (Cox regression) of factors associated with recovery time of SAM among severely malnourished in the therapeutic units of Debre Markos Referral and Finote Selam District Hospitals, 2016
Table 7 Multivariate analysis (Cox regression) of factors associated with recovery time of SAM among severely malnourished in the therapeutic units of Debre Markos Referral and Finote Selam District Hospitals, 2016

Those children age from 24 to 35 months had 34% lower probability of recovery from SAM compared to 6–11 months old children (AHR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.35–0.89). Children whose ages from 36 to 59 months had 47% lower probability of recovery from SAM compared to 6–11 months old children (AHR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.31–0.91). HIV negative children had 2.48 times higher probability of getting recovered from SAM compared to HIV positive children (AHR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.23–5.01). Children who didn’t take folic acid supplement had 65% lower probability of recovery from SAM compared to children who took folic acid supplement (AHR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.14–0.89).

Discussion

This study analyzed the treatment outcomes of infants and children 6–59 months age who have MUAC <11.5 cm or bilateral pitting edema and co-infection. Findings of this study showed that the recovery rates and death rates among admitted 6–59 months old children were 77.9 and 5.5% respectively. Not only recovery and death rate but also the other outcome indicators in this study showed that there were in the minimum standard set of sphere project values/international standards [9].

The recovery rate in our study is higher than previous findings from Tigray [10], Kamba District [11], Uganda [12], Sudan [13], Tamale Teaching Hospital [14] and India [15]. But it is lower than findings from Jimma University Specialized Hospital [16], Woldiya General Hospital [17], Southern region of Ethiopia [18] and Rural Ethiopia [19]. This difference could be due to differences in socio-economic status, quality of care provided for children, health seeking behavior, availability as well as accessibility of therapeutic foods and medications. Another possible factor for this variation could be guideline up date for SAM treatment.

The present study also found that higher mortality rate than reports from Tigray [10], Southern region of Ethiopia [18] and India [15]. However, it is lower than reports from Uganda [12], Sudan [13], Jimma University Specialized Hospital [16], Woldiya General Hospital [17] and Rural Ethiopia [19]. The possible explanation for this variation might be differences in quality of services provided for children admitted with SAM and management of medical complications associated with SAM.

The presence of HIV infection among children was negatively associated with recovery time from SAM. HIV negative children had 2.48 times higher probability of getting recovered from SAM compared to HIV positive children (AHR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.23–5.01). This is in line with Woldiya General Hospital [17] finding. It is known that the effects of HIV/AIDS and malnutrition are interconnected and worsen one another in a vicious cycle.

Being in the younger age group was positively associated with recovery time from SAM. Those children age from 24 to 35 months had 34% lower probability of recovery from SAM compared to 6–11 months old children (AHR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.35–0.89). Children whose ages from 36 to 59 months had 47% lower probability of recovery from SAM compared to 6–11 months old children (AHR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.31–0.91). This finding is similar with previous results [11, 16]. This might be due to discontinuation of breastfeeding and inappropriate complementary feeding practices as children’s age increases.

Folic acid supplementation was positively associated with recovery time from SAM. Children who didn’t take folic acid supplement had 65% lower probability of recovery from SAM compared to children who took folic acid supplement (AHR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.14–0.89). This could be due to the fact that folic acid supplementation prevents anemia.

The limitations of this study were lack of comparison group from other healthcare facilities in the region, lack of information about whether there were cases of relapse—cases being readmitted shortly after discharge, possible reasons being use of inappropriate discharge criteria, or being discharged too early and investigators didn’t have control over the collected data since this study utilizes secondary data. In addition, we were unable to incorporate statistical methodologies which account for small sample size.

Conclusions

Not only recovery and death rate but also the other outcome indicators in this study showed that there were in the minimum standard set of sphere project values/international standards. Increased recovery rate and reduced mortality rates among 6–59 months children in the study units were observed. Age group, folic acid supplementation and HIV status were predictors for recovery. Health facilities should strengthen folic acid supplementation and screening of HIV infection as early as possible at each service area.

Abbreviations

AHR:

Adjusted Hazard Rate

DALYs:

Disability Adjusted Life Years

GDP:

Gross domestic product

HIV:

Human immunodeficiency virus

MUAC:

Mid upper arm circumference

SAM:

Severe acute malnutrition

SPSS:

Statistical package for social sciences

WFH:

Weight for height

WFL:

Weight for length

References

  1. International food policy research institute and the enteric and diarrheal diseases aantatBaMGf. Aflatoxin: impact on stunting in children and interventions to reduce exposure. 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  2. WHO. A joint statement by the word health organization, word food programs, the united nation system standing committee on nutrition and the united nation children fund: community-based management of severe acute malnutrition. Geneva: World health organization; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Anna B, Enrico RB, Fabio M, Cristina P. Outcome of severe malnourished children treated according to UNICEF 2004 guidelines: a one year experience in a zonal hospital in rural Ethiopia. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2008;102:939–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Gebremichael M, Mulugeta A, Tsadik M. Treatment outcomes and associated risk factors of severely malnourished under five children admitted to therapeutic feeding centers of Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia. Open Access Libr J. 2014;1:e446.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Amsalu S. The outcome of severe malnutrition in north-West Ethiopia: a retrospective analysis of admissions. Ethiop Med J. 2006;44:151–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. UNICEF. Annual report 2012 for Ethiopia, ESARO; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Central Statistical Agency (CSA) [Ethiopia] and ICF. Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey. Key indicators report. Addis Ababa and Rockville: CSA and ICF; 2016. p. 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Federal Ministry of Health. Protocol for the Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition. Addis Ababa: Ethiopia-Federal Ministry of Health; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Sphere Project. Humanitarian charter and minimum standards in disaster response. Geneva: The Sphere Project; 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gebremedhin H, Kendall C, Nigusse D, Lemma W. Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding Program Outcomes and Determinants in Treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cohort Study. PLOS ONE. 2013;8(6).

  11. Alemu N, Lemma S, Misker D. Recovery rate and determinants in treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition using outpatient therapeutic feeding program in Kamba District, south West Ethiopia. J Nutr Disorders Ther. 2015;5(2):e65840.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Nyeko R, Calbi V, Otto B, Flona G. Treatment outcome among children underfive years hospitalized with severe acute malnutrition in St. Mary’s hospital Lacor, Northern Uganda. BMC Nutr. 2016;2(19)

  13. Kanan S, Osman M. Prevalence and outcome of severe malnutrition in children less than five-year- old in Omdurman Paediatrics hospital, Sudan. Sudan J Paediatr. 2016;16(1):23.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Saaka M, Mohammed S, Amponsem A, Juventus B, Abdul-Mumin A, Akanbong P, et al. Treatment outcome of severe acute malnutrition cases at the tamale teaching hospital. J Nutr Metab. 2015;2015:641784.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Burza S, Mahajan R, Marino E, Sunyoto T, Shandilya C, Tabrez M, et al. Community-based management of severe acute malnutrition in India: new evidence from Bihar. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015;101(4):847–59.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Chalachew M, Megdelawit T, Andualem D. Retrospective study on treatment outcome of severe acute malnutrition in Jimma University specialized hospital from September 2011- September 2012. J Diagn. 2014;1(2):18–28.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Chane T, Oljira L, Egata G, Agedew E. Treatment outcome and associated factors among under-five children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to therapeutic feeding unit in Woldia hospital, North Ethiopia. J Nutr Food Sci. 2014;4:1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Teferi E, Lera M, Sita S, Bogale Z, Gemechu D, Ahmed M. Treatment outcome of children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to therapeutic feeding centers in Southern Region of Ethiopia. Ethiop J Health Dev. 2010;24(3):234-8.

  19. Berti A, Rino E, Manenti F, Pizzi C. Outcome of severely malnourished children treated according to UNICEF 2004 guidelines: a one-year experience in a zone hospital in rural Ethiopia. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2008;102:939.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the staffs of Debre Markos Referral and Finote Selam District Hospitals for their full cooperation and vital assistance during data collection. We also gratefully acknowledge Dr. Habtamu Oljira and Asmamaw Ketemaw who participated in various aspects of the research process.

Funding

There is no organization that funds this research.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and / or analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Authors’ contributions

TD conceived and designed the study, performed analysis and interpretationof data. GM and GH assisted with the design, conception, analysis and interpretation of data. GM also write-up and drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Competing interests

Authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Consent for publication

Consent for publication is not necessary because this manuscript didn’t have personal data like individual details, images or videos.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Official support letter was obtained from Debre Markos University ethical review committee and the letter was given for each Hospital chief executive officers. During data collection the purpose of the study was explained for the data owners. No information disclosed to any third person that obtained from the medical records. Each medical chart was reviewed and returned carefully with proper care. Permission to access the data was given for therapeutic feeding center coordinators in each site. Consent was not given by the parent/guardian of each of the patients involved in this research because this study utilizes secondary data.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Getnet Mekuria.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mekuria, G., Derese, T. & Hailu, G. Treatment outcome and associated factors of severe acute malnutrition among 6–59 months old children in Debre Markos and Finote Selam hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Nutr 3, 42 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-017-0161-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-017-0161-3

Keywords