Determinants of survival status of children treated for severe acute malnutrition at outpatient therapeutic program in Kembata Tembaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Children in third world countries suffer from severe acute malnutrition in an extent of public health important. Thus, this study was conducted to assess determinants of survival status of children treated for Severe Acute Malnutrition at Outpatient Therapeutic Program in Kembata Tembaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Methods: A retrospective facility based cross-sectional study was conducted in records of outpatient therapeutic program in 2017. Four hundred thirty three children represented by their Outpatient Therapeutic Program card were included from three woredas selected by simple random sampling technique. From these three woredas, 18 health posts were selected by simple random sampling. Population Proportion to size allocation was used to assign sample for each selected woredas. Systematic sampling technique was used to assign child card for each selected health posts in the study area. Data was entered, cleaned and analyzed in SPPS version 20. Bi-variable and multivariable cox regression models were fitted.

Results: At the program, 381(88%) at 95% CI children survived after complete length of stay. Children survival rate through time was affected in statistically significant figures by children reside in <30 minutes (AHR=1.28; (95% CI=1.04-1.58)), children without symptom were (AHR=9.17; (95% CI=1.27-66.38)), children with kwashiorkor were (AHR=1.94; (95% CI=1.45-2.60)) and provision of amoxicillin as supportive medications were (AHR=2.45; (95% CI=1.16-5.16)) at 95% confidence level in Log Rank test (P<0.05).

Conclusions: The survival rate was higher compared to acceptable minimum sphere standard. Besides, variables which affect the survival status of children were distance from residents’ home to health post, being asymptomatic, type of malnutrition, and provision of amoxicillin.