Perception and experience on SAM among 6-59 months children in Ari zone, S/Ethiopia

Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore caregivers’ perceptions of and experiences with SAM among children aged 6–59 months in the Ari Zone, South Ethiopia, 2023. Material and Methods: From June to August 2023, an exploratory-descriptive qualitative study was carried out in the Ari Zone of South Ethiopia. In-depth interviews and focused group discussions were utilized in the study to describe the perspectives and experiences of the caregivers. The application of credibility, transferability, dependability, conformability, and authenticity preserved the scientific rigor and reliability. NVivo version 12 Pro software was utilized to conduct the inductive thematic analyses. Results: The ways in which caregivers manage SAM and its shared challenges were described using four predominant themes, namely, community-related challenges, hygiene and sanitation, food insecurity, and health system-related challenges. Conclusion: As a result, malnutrition is not well understood by families of children, and traditional practices, especially kella , have predominantly been performed in study areas with paradoxical diagnoses and identical symptoms of SAM. Economic incapability influences tackling SAM in children. The health system has limitations in terms of supplies, service delivery, and professional ethics. These situations need to be improved by working on community awareness and empowerment, strengthening the system and further investigating traditional practices.