Characteristics and treatment outcomes of malnutrition among infants aged less than 6 months in North-East Nigeria (2019-2022)

• Main Authors: Nieves Amat Camacho (Author), Faisal Husain (Author), Dang Bahya‐Batinda (Author), Eithandee Aung (Author), Abdullahi Chara (Author), Musa Tanko (Author), Oluwakemi F. Ogundipe (Author), Mario Barbagallo (Author), Kyi Htet Aung (Author), Johan von Schreeb (Author), Francesco Della Corte (Author), Ourania Kolokotroni (Author), Temmy Sunyoto (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Wiley, 2024-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Abstract Recommendations for the management of malnutrition among infants aged less than 6 months (<6 m) are based on limited evidence. This study aimed to describe the characteristics, treatment outcomes and outcome‐associated factors among malnourished infants <6 m admitted at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) inpatient and ambulatory therapeutic feeding centres (ITFC and ATFC) in North-East Nigeria, 2019-2022. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the cohorts and logistic regression to measure the association between two selected outcomes-inpatient mortality and defaulting from the ambulatory programme-and possible factors associated. In total, 940 infants <6 m were admitted at ITFC. Most of them presented severe acute malnutrition and comorbidities, with diarrhoea being the most frequent. On discharge, 13.3% (n = 125) of infants were cured, 72.9% (n = 684) stabilized (referred to ATFC), 6.5% (n = 61) left against medical advice and 4.2% (n = 39) died. The median length of hospital stay was 10 days [IQR 7-14]. A hospital stay shorter than 10 days was significantly associated with inpatient mortality (aOR = 12.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.72-42.11, p ≤ 0.01). Among 561 infants followed up at the ATFC, only 2.8% reported comorbidities. On discharge, 80.9% (n = 429) were cured, 16.2% (n = 86) defaulted and 1.1% (n = 6) died. Male sex (aOR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.15-3.27, p = 0.01), internally displaced status (aOR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.05-2.79, p = 0.03) and <−3 WLZ (aOR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.05-3.63, p = 0.03) were significantly associated with programme defaulting. Stabilization and recovery rates among malnourished infants <6 m in the studied project align with acceptable standards in this humanitarian setting. Notable defaulting rates from outpatient care should be further explored.

Item Description

1740-8709
1740-8695
10.1111/mcn.13676