RESUMEN
To determine the frequency of low mid upper arm circumference [MUAC] of children with acute malnutrition. This study was conducted in the department of paediatrics at Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad from 01-06-2012 to 30-11-2012. All the children with features of malnutrition, of either gender were recruited and evaluated for their mid upper arm circumference which was measured through plastic measuring tape. During six month study period, total 135 children with acute malnutrition were studied for their mid upper arm circumference [MUAC], of which 95[70%] were males and 40[30%] were females. The mean age +/- SD of overall population was 30.24 +/- 10.57 month while the mean age of male children was 32.88 +/- 11.76 and the female child was 31.62 +/- 10.97 months. Regarding the MUAC, was low in 93[68.9%] children with acute malnutrition. The mean age +/- SD of child with low MUAC was 28.99 +/- 12.52 while the mean +/- age of male and female child with low MUAC was 27.63 +/- 10.73 and 29.85 +/- 11.64 respectively. The mean MUAC in children of acute malnutrition with low MUAC was 8.85 +/- 3.93 while it was 8.66 +/- 3.96 and 8.93 +/- 3.31 in male and female child with low MUAC respectively. The present study suggested that MUAC is appropriate and good tool for identifying severe malnutrition in children
RESUMEN
Pakistan is signatory to World Summit 90 to eliminate Neonatal Tetanus [NNT] by the year 2000. Yet number of cases and mortality caused by the disease remains high and preventive activities i.e. TT [Tetanus Toxoid] immunization of child bearing age women and training of Traditional Birth Attendants [TBA] remains low or ineffective. A study was conducted at Pediatric Department, Peoples Medical College Hospital [PMCH] Nawabshah to know the number of NNT cases, management problems, prognostic factors and mortality rate from January 1995 to August 19%. Preventive activities at the hospital were also reviewed simultaneously. Study shows that NNT [136 cases] comprised 1.9% of total admissions [7140] and 9.1% of neonatal admissions [1555] but total deaths [65] comprised 5.4% of total admissions and 15.2% of NNT deaths with a mortality rate of 47.7%. It was seen that classical neonatal scoring system for prognosis was useful but few other factors should also be considered. Study shows that majority of deliveries were still conducted by untrained Dais. No action was taken on formal reporting system and lot of opportunities for TT vaccination were being missed. Study concludes that TBA training activities should be increased EPI programme should be revitalized, reporting system should be made personnel oriented and stock should be taken of lost opportunities of TT vaccination at teaching hospital