Feeding regimen and weight gains of children admitted to Mitundu nutrition rehabilitation centre

ABSTRACT

The feeding regimen and weight gains of 80 severely malnourished children admitted at Mitundu Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre in Lilongwe were studied. Family background; feeding practises and nutritional characteristics at the time of admittance were also studied. Most children were aged between 13 to 36 months. Kwashiokor was the predominant form of malnutrition. Abrupt weaning was the predominant feature of weaning when the mothers realised another pregnancy. The dietary regimen was found to be effective for those children who stayed for 31 to 40 days. Weight gain per day increased with increasing ages and was greater for boys than girls. Children with marasmic kwashiokor gained more weight per day than children those with kwashiokor. The weights of those children with vomitting decreased. Most children were discharged from the centre before they showed satisfactory weight recovery