Volume : V, Issue : IV, April - 2015

Community Based Management of Severe Malnutrition– Sam and Suw# in U5 Children of Tribal Area, Melghat, Central India

Dr. Vibhavari Dani, Dr. Ashish Satav, Mrs. Jayashri Pendharkar, Dr. Ajay Sadanshiv, Dr. Ambadas S Adhav, Dr. Bharat S Thakare

Abstract :

 Background: Melghat has heavy burden of malnutrition, inadequate medical facilities and poor health 

seeking behavior by tribal. Hospital services have limited coverage and impact. Community based management of severe malnutrition is explored as alternative.
Objective: To assess feasibility of community based management of severely malnourished children (SMC) in tribal Melghat.
Methods: A community based prospective trial was conducted in tribal Melghat from August–October 2012 with six 
months follow–up. A representative sample of 145 SMCs in 6–60 months age group from randomly chosen 14 villages 
was selected with one–stage cluster sampling. Locally prepared MAHAN–RUTF (Ready–to–Use Therapeutic Food) with 
micronutrients was given to SMCs for 90 days. Infection management and behavior change communication (BCC) of 
parents was done by Village Health Workers (VHWs).
Results: After 8 weeks 55.1% SAM and 15.6% SUW children recovered. Weight–gain/kg/day after 8th, 10th and 12th 
week among SAM was 2.6, 2.3, 2.2 gm and among SUW was 2.5, 1.9, 1.5 gm respectively. Case fatality rate for SAM 
was 2.0% and for SUW 0.8%. The relapse rates for recovered SAM and SUW were 3.03% and 11.1% respectively.
Conclusion: This pilot study of community based management of SAM and SUW is feasible and will be base for larger 
ongoing RCT.

Keywords :

Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijar  

Cite This Article:

Dr. Vibhavari Dani, Dr. Ashish Satav, Mrs. Jayashri Pendharkar, Dr. Ajay Sadanshiv, Dr. Ambadas S Adhav, Dr. Bharat S Thakare Community Based Management of Severe Malnutrition– Sam and Suw# in U5 Children of Tribal Area, Melghat, Central India Indian Journal of Applied Research, Vol.5, Issue : 4 April 2015


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