Evaluation of anthropometric indicators in malnourished children at Nutritional Rehabilitation Center, Gujarat, India

ABSTRACT

Background: It is very difficult to recognize the cases with mild-to-moderate malnutrition because clinical criteria for their diagnosis are imprecise and are difficult to interpret accurately. The objective of the study was daily weight gain in gram/kg/day in severely malnourished children.Methods: This was a hospital based cross sectional study in which total of 114 consecutive patients of SAM less than 5 years treated for complications of severe acute malnutrition using WHO protocol. The study design included 114 children from the NRC and then followed up the period of 6 months to assess the nutritional status during the period of initial stage and the entire follow up period using available record of anthropometry indicators of the admitted children recruited in the study at the NRC.Results: Mean weight at admission was 6.4 Kg, 6.5 Kg and 6.2 Kg of overall, boys and girls respectively. Mean weight at discharge was 6.8 Kg, 6.7 Kg and 6.6 Kg of overall, boys and girls respectively. Mean MUAC at admission was 10.7 cm, 10.9 cm and 10.6 cm of overall, boys and girls respectively. Mean MUAC at discharge was 10.9 cm, 10.9 cm and 10.8 cm of overall, boys and girls respectively.Conclusions: For treatment of severe acute malnutrition, systematic guidelines required, thus this study indicates that following WHO guidelines, it has become easier to manage SAM in hospital settings, with least possible stay at hospital. The objective of the study was to know the effect of nutritional intervention measures on selected anthropometric indicators of severe acute malnourished children.