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Kiran KA, Kujur M, Kumari R, Sagar V, Kumar D, Hassen G, Kashyap V, Prasad AK, Rana RK. Evaluation of the Health and Nutritional Status of Discharged Children From Malnutrition Treatment Centres Using Mobile Phone Calls During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Jharkhand, India. Cureus 2023; 15:e38314. [PMID: 37261146 PMCID: PMC10226897 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.38314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Indian state of Jharkhand has the highest rate of wasting (29%) among young children. Mobile audio call follow-up can be used to assess such children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Aim This study evaluated SAM children during the COVID-19 outbreak and learn more about the status of their home/community care, and caregivers' awareness of integrated child development services (ICDS) and COVID-19 prevention. Methods Contact numbers of caregivers for discharged children were obtained from 54 malnutrition treatment centers (MTCs). In April and June 2020, mentors conducted follow-up interviews using mobile phone calls. Results Seven children (1.72%) were reported dead and 400 were alive, mostly girls (59.5%). Only a few caregivers observed post-discharge ailments (15.4%) and weight loss (7.7%) in their children. Children aged six to 24 months were characterized by continued breastfeeding (88.0%) at most five to six times a day (45.8%). Most of the children were not fed as per maternal infant and young child feeding protocols. Age in months with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.55 (1.00-1.11) as a 95% confidence interval (CI), age category, with an adjusted OR of 4.32 (1.71- 10.94) as 95% CI, and breastfeeding with adjusted OR 1.85 (1.07- 3.21) as 95% CI were three major predictors for a well-fed child. Conclusion Community involvement is crucial in the follow-up of children with SAM for effective rehabilitation. Mobile phone audio call follow-up is a relatively cost-effective approach to tackle geographic barriers and COVID-19 lockdown-induced situations. There are major gaps mainly in informing caregivers on how to manage COVID-19 with breastfeeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumari Asha Kiran
- Preventive Medicine, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Ranchi, IND
| | - Manisha Kujur
- Preventive Medicine, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Ranchi, IND
| | - Reema Kumari
- Preventive Medicine, The State Center of Excellence for Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition, Ranchi, IND
| | - Vidya Sagar
- Preventive Medicine, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Ranchi, IND
| | - Dewesh Kumar
- Community Medicine/Preventive and Social Medicine, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Ranchi, IND
| | - Gashaw Hassen
- Internal Medicine, University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center, Largo, USA
- Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, ETH
- Progressive Care, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, USA
- Medicine and Surgery, Parma University, Parma, ITA
| | - Vivek Kashyap
- Community Medicine, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Ranchi, IND
| | - Ajit K Prasad
- Family and Community Medicine, National Health Mission, Ranchi, IND
| | - Rishabh K Rana
- Preventive and Social Medicine/Community Medicine, Shaheed Nirmal Mahto Medical College and Hospital (Erstwhile Patliputra Medical College), Dhanbad, IND
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