Healthcare providers’ implementation of severe acute malnutrition guidelines and the factors associated with it among healthcare providers working at public health facilities of South Wollo Zone, Northeast Ethiopia, in 2024

Less than two thirds of healthcare providers successfully implemented severe acute malnutrition guidelines. This will contribute to further complications, increased default rates, longer stays on treatment and poor SAM treatment outcomes. Factors that influenced the implementation of these guidelines included job satisfaction among healthcare providers, training on guideline updates and the availability of guidelines in the workplace. Healthcare providers working on SAM treatment should implement SAM guidelines according to the guideline standards to improve better outcomes of SAM treatment. To improve adherence to severe acute malnutrition guidelines, district health offices, zonal health departments and regional health bureaus should provide training on the guidelines, distribute printed copies and implement various staff motivation strategies.