Survival status of children treated for severe acute malnutrition in outpatient therapeutic program by season in Kembata Tembaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is a deficiency state of both macro and micronutrients (under-nutrition) and their over consumption (over-nutrition) causing measurable adverse effects on human body structure and function, resulting in specific physical and clinical outcomes. Nearly 52 million under five children globally are malnourished, and in Africa it is about 14 million. However, there is little information known about seasonal variations of admission.

Objective: To assess seasonal variations of admission 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 from records of outpatient therapeutic program from January 01 to December 30, 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 entered, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results: Seasonal distribution of Sever Acute Malnutrition admission to outpatient therapeutic program in Kembata Tembaro Zone shows 55.7% at 95% CI were admitted from December to May, 2017. Children survival rate through time was affected in statistically significant figures by distance from home to health posts <30 minutes (AHR=1.28; (95% CI=1.04-1.58))

Conclusions: Large extents of children were admitted to the program in dry season with climax admission at May. The survival rate was higher in wet season. The stakeholders should recognize as food insecurity can happen in dry season and focus on creating the capacity of the OTP providers on proper management of SAM.