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Bhutta ZA. The quest to optimize management of severe childhood malnutrition globally. Am J Clin Nutr 2024; 120:463-464. [PMID: 39232598 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zulfiqar A Bhutta
- Center for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Institute for Global Health and Development, The Aga Khan University, South-Central Asia and East Africa, Karachi, Pakistan.
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Bahwere P, Funnell G, Qarizada AN, Woodhead S, Bengnwi W, Le MT. Effectiveness of a nonweight-based daily dosage of ready-to-use therapeutic food in children suffering from uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition: A nonrandomized, noninferiority analysis of programme data in Afghanistan. MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION 2024; 20:e13641. [PMID: 38627974 PMCID: PMC11168373 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remains a major global public health problem. SAM cases are treated using ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) at a dosage of ∼200 kcal/kg/day per the standard treatment protocol (STD). Emerging evidence on simplifications to the standard protocol, which among other adaptations, includes reducing the daily RUTF dosage, indicates that it is effective and safe for treating children with SAM. In response to a foreseen stock shortage of RUTF, the government of Afghanistan endorsed the temporary use of a modified treatment protocol in which the daily RUTF dosage was prescribed at 1000 kcal/day (irrespective of body weight) until the child achieved moderate acute malnutrition status (weight-for-height z-score ≥ -3 or mid-upper arm circumference [MUAC] ≥ 115 mm), at which point 500 kcal/day was prescribed until cured (modified treatment protocol [MTP]). In this paper, we report the results of this nonweight-based daily RUTF dosage experience. Data of 2042 children with SAM, treated using either the STD protocol (n = 269) or the MTP protocol (n = 1773) from August 2019 to March 2021 in five provinces, were analyzed. The per-protocol analyses confirmed noninferiority of MTP protocol when compared to STD protocol for recovery rate [93.3% vs. 90.2%; ∆ (95% confidence interval, CI) = 3.1 (-0.9; 7.2) %] and length-of-stay [82.6 vs. 75.6 days; ∆ (95% CI) = 6.9 (3.3; 10.5) days], considering the margin of noninferiority of -10% and +14 days, respectively. Weight gain velocity was smaller in the MTP protocol group than in the STD protocol group [3.7 (1.7) vs. 5.2 (2.9) g/kg/day; ∆ (95% CI) = -1.5 (-1.8, -1.2); p < 0.001]. The STD group had a significantly higher mean than the MTP group for absolute MUAC gain [∆ (95% CI) = 1.7 (1.0; 2.3) mm; p < 0.001] and the MUAC velocity [∆ (95% CI) = 0.29 (0.20; 0.37) mm/week; p < 0.001]. Our results confirm the noninferiority of a nonweight-based daily dosage and support the endorsement of this modification as an alternative to the standard protocol in resource-constrained contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paluku Bahwere
- Center for Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Research (CR2), School of Public HealthUniversité Libre de BruxellesBrusselsBelgium
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Hitchings MDT, Berthé F, Aruna P, Shehu I, Hamza MA, Nanama S, Steve-Edemba C, Grais RF, Isanaka S. Correction: Effectiveness of a monthly schedule of follow-up for the treatment of uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition in Sokoto, Nigeria: A cluster randomized crossover trial. PLoS Med 2024; 21:e1004370. [PMID: 38507664 PMCID: PMC10954311 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003923.].
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Alamneh AB, Abate KH, Assaye AM, Demlie YW, Guma ME, Belachew T. Experience of caregivers on the continuum of care and prevention of malnutrition among children with cholera in Ethiopia: a phenomenology study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:614. [PMID: 38409003 PMCID: PMC10897998 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18080-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Malnutrition is a public health problem in low- and middle-income countries among children. Although illnesses such as diarrhea are common immediate drivers of childhood malnutrition, their consequences could be averted through optimal sick child feeding and care to ensure the continuum of care. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of mothers/caregivers on continuum of care to prevent malnutrition among children with cholera in Ethiopia. METHODS A phenomenology study design was applied to explore experiences of mothers/caregivers in the Bale and Guji zones of the Oromia region, southeast Ethiopia, from November to December 2022 using an unstructured interview guide. The saturation of ideas was used to stop the in-depth interview. Translated data were cleaned and imported into ATLAS.ti7 software for analysis. Using an open coding system, the data were coded into a meaningful context. Deeper immersion into data with repeated reading, creating themes, subthemes, and family/category were carried out. In coding and categorization, multiple coders were involved. The finding was presented using well-spoken verbatim/quotes as illustrations and in narratives. RESULTS In this qualitative study, ten participants were taken to explore their lived experience on the continuum of care for children with acute malnutrition and cholera. The study found that poverty, expensive cost of living, and poor utilization of diversified food were challenges. Moreover, health facilities did not provide any services to mothers whose child was admitted for malnutrition treatment. Children five years and above were excluded from both therapeutic food and screening for malnutrition program. Interruptions of supplies, low attention given to child feeding, inadequate knowledge, and lack of time to prepare diversified food were the main findings. CONCLUSION Poverty, poor feeding habits, supplies interruption and non-inclusion of malnourished children five and above in screening for malnutrition and in the therapeutic feeding program is missed opportunities that lead to decreased early detection and treatment of malnutrition among children with cholera. Moreover, mothers/caregivers did not receive any service from health facilities when their child was admitted for treatment of malnutrition. This situation forces them to stop treatment before their child recovers from malnutrition, which has a negative impact on the continuum of care and prevention of malnutrition. Therefore, we strongly recommend strengthening emergency nutrition within the country's health system and revising the food and nutrition policy to incorporate emergency nutrition, with a particular focus on children under the age of fifteen. Additionally, it is important that the study's recommendations underscore the significance of a multi-sectoral approach that involves collaboration among the health sector, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Moreover, adaptive agricultural products be made easily accessible to the community which is crucial in effective preventing and reducing malnutrition in children in the study and similar settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alemayehu Belay Alamneh
- Public Health Emergency Management, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, P.O. Box: 1242, Ethiopia.
- Institute of Health, Department of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
| | - Kalkidan Hassen Abate
- Institute of Health, Department of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Ashagre Molla Assaye
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Bahir Dar University Bahir Dar, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Yeshambel Worku Demlie
- Public Health Emergency Management, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, P.O. Box: 1242, Ethiopia
| | - Moti Edosa Guma
- Public Health Emergency Management, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, P.O. Box: 1242, Ethiopia
| | - Tefera Belachew
- Institute of Health, Department of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
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Lyles E, Ismail S, Ramaswamy M, Drame A, Leidman E, Doocy S. Simplified treatment protocols improve recovery of children with severe acute malnutrition in South Sudan: results from a mixed methods study. JOURNAL OF HEALTH, POPULATION, AND NUTRITION 2024; 43:21. [PMID: 38308364 PMCID: PMC10835937 DOI: 10.1186/s41043-024-00518-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As part of COVID-19 mitigation strategies, emergency nutrition program adaptations were implemented, but evidence of the effects is limited. Compared to the standard protocol, the full adapted protocol included adapted admissions criteria, simplified dosing, and reduced visit frequency; partially adapted protocols consisting of only some of these modifications were also implemented. To enable evidence-based nutrition program modifications as the context evolved, this study was conducted to characterize how protocol adaptations in South Sudan affected Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding Program outcomes. METHODS A mixed methods approach consisting of secondary analysis of individual-level nutrition program data and key informant interviews was used. Analyses focused on program implementation and severe acute malnutrition treatment outcomes under the standard, full COVID-19 adapted, and partially adapted treatment protocols from 2019 through 2021. Analyses compared characteristics and outcomes by different admission types under the standard protocol and across four different treatment protocols. Regression models evaluated the odds of recovery and mean length of stay (LoS) under the four protocols. RESULTS Very few (1.6%; n = 156) children admitted based on low weight-for-height alone under the standard protocol would not have been eligible for admission under the adapted protocol. Compared to the full standard protocol, the partially adapted (admission only) and partially adapted (admission and dosing) protocols had lower LoS of 28.4 days (CI - 30.2, - 26.5) and 5.1 days (CI - 6.2, - 4.0); the full adapted protocol had a decrease of 3.0 (CI - 5.1, - 1.0) days. All adapted protocols had significantly increased adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for recovery compared to the full standard protocol: partially adapted (admission only) AOR = 2.56 (CI 2.18-3.01); partially adapted (admission + dosing) AOR = 1.78 (CI 1.45-2.19); and fully adapted protocol AOR = 2.41 (CI 1.69-3.45). CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that few children were excluded when weight-for-height criteria were suspended. LoS was shortest when only MUAC was used for entry/exit but dosing and visit frequency were unchanged. Significantly shorter LoS with simplified dosing and visit frequency vs. under the standard protocol indicate that protocol adaptations may lead to shorter recovery and program enrollment times. Findings also suggest that good recovery is achievable with reduced visit frequency and simplified dosing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Lyles
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Suite E8132, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Sule Ismail
- Integral Global Consulting, Atlanta, GA, USA
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Maya Ramaswamy
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Aly Drame
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eva Leidman
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Shannon Doocy
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Suite E8132, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Alier KK, Tappis H, Ismail S, Doocy S. Impact of COVID-19 program adaptations on costs and cost-effectiveness of community management of acute malnutrition program in South Sudan. Public Health Nutr 2023; 27:e15. [PMID: 38095095 PMCID: PMC10830371 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980023002719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the protocol adaptations on cost and cost-effectiveness of community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) program in South Sudan. DESIGN Retrospective program expenditure-based analysis of non-governmental organisation (NGO) CMAM programs for COVID-19 period (April 2020-December 2021) in respect to pre-COVID period (January 2019-March 2020). SETTING Study was conducted as part of a bigger evaluation study in South Sudan. PARTICIPANTS International and national NGOs operating CMAM programs under the nutrition cluster participated in the study. RESULTS The average cost per child recovered from the programme declined by 20 % during COVID from $133 (range: $34-1174) pre-COVID to $107 (range: $20-333) during COVID. The cost per child recovered was negatively correlated with programme size (pre-COVID r-squared = 0·58; during COIVD r-squared = 0·50). Programmes with higher enrollment were cheaper compared with those with low enrolment. Salaries, ready to use food and community activities accounted for over two-thirds of the cost per recovery during both pre-COVID (69 %) and COVID (79 %) periods. While cost per child recovered decreased during COVID period, it did not negatively impact on the programme outcome. Enrolment increased by an average of 19·8 % and recovery rate by 4·6 % during COVID period. CONCLUSIONS Costs reduced with no apparent negative implication on recovery rates after implementing the COVID CMAM protocol adaptations with a strong negative correlation between cost and programme size. This suggests that investing in capacity, screening and referral at existing CMAM sites to enable expansion of caseload maybe a preferable strategy to increasing the number of CMAM sites in South Sudan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kemish Kenneth Alier
- Center for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD21205, USA
| | - Hannah Tappis
- Center for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD21205, USA
| | - Sule Ismail
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Juba, South Sudan
- Integral Global Consulting, Atlanta, GA
| | - Shannon Doocy
- Center for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD21205, USA
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Optimizing prevention and community-based management of severe malnutrition in children. PLoS Med 2022; 19:e1003924. [PMID: 35231022 PMCID: PMC8887723 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Zulfiqar A. Bhutta discusses prevention and treatment strategies for optimization of community-based management of severe acute malnutrition in children.
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Menzies NA, Berthé F, Hitchings M, Aruna P, Hamza MA, Nanama S, Steve-Edemba C, Shehu I, Grais RF, Isanaka S. Cost-effectiveness of monthly follow-up for the treatment of uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition: An economic evaluation of a randomized controlled trial. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0001189. [PMID: 36962786 PMCID: PMC10022243 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a major source of mortality for children in low resource settings. Alternative treatment models that improve acceptability and reduce caregiver burden are needed to improve treatment access. We assessed costs and cost-effectiveness of monthly vs. weekly follow-up (standard-of-care) for treating uncomplicated SAM in children 6-59 months of age. To do so, we conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of a cluster-randomized trial of treatment for newly-diagnosed uncomplicated SAM in northwestern Nigeria (clinicaltrials.gov ID NCT03140904). We collected empirical costing data from enrollment up to 3 months post-discharge. We quantified health outcomes as the fraction of children recovered at discharge (primary cost-effectiveness outcome), the fraction recovered 3 months post-discharge, and total DALYs due to acute malnutrition. We estimated cost-effectiveness from both provider and societal perspectives. Costs are reported in 2019 US dollars. Provider costs per child were $67.07 (95% confidence interval: $64.79, $69.29) under standard-of-care, and $78.74 ($77.06, $80.66) under monthly follow-up. Patient costs per child were $21.04 ($18.18, $23.51) under standard-of-care, and $14.16 ($12.79, $15.25) under monthly follow-up. Monthly follow-up performed worse than standard-of-care for each health outcome assessed and was dominated (produced worse health outcomes at higher cost) by the standard-of-care in cost-effectiveness analyses. This result was robust to statistical uncertainty and to alternative costing assumptions. These findings provide evidence against monthly follow-up for treatment of uncomplicated SAM in situations where weekly follow-up of patients is feasible. While monthly follow-up may reduce burdens on caregivers and providers, other approaches are needed to do so while maintaining the effectiveness of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas A Menzies
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Health Decision Science, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | - Matt Hitchings
- Department of Biology and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Philip Aruna
- Médecins sans Frontières-Operational Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Siméon Nanama
- UNICEF West and Central Regional Office, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | | | | | - Sheila Isanaka
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Epicentre, Paris, France
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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