A Study to Assess Effectiveness of Nutritional Rehabilitation Intervention With Reference to the Children Discharged from Nutritional Rehabilitation Center of a District

Abstract Background: Malnutrition is one of the most common causes of under five morbidity and mortality among children throughout the world. Severely sick malnourished children (severe acute malnutrition [SAM]) are admitted in nutrition rehabilitation centers (NRCs) for medical and nutritional treatment. Objectives: The present study assesses the change in nutritional status of the children in pre- and post-NRC children with focus on anthropometry indicators. Methodology: This prospective observational study was conducted in NRC of district hospital in Thane district of Maharashtra. Children of age group 6–60 months who were admitted in NRCs and who were presently staying in Thane block were included in the study. Universal sampling was done. A total sample size of 96 was obtained for the purpose of record-based data, while for interview and anthropometry-based data sample size was 73 (20 cases were non traceable and 3 death were reported) as per the inclusion criteria. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22.0 Result: The mean age of admitted SAM children was 21.6 years with standard deviation = 13.05. The mean weight, height, and midupper arm circumference (MUAC) all showed improvement on discharge from NRC. The mean weight gain during the stay was 0.500 kg, mean height/length gain was 0.13 cm, and mean gain in MUAC was 0.11 cm. 77 children were discharged for recovery. The mean rate of weight gain was 7.484 ± 3.49 g/kg/day. Conclusions: It was observed that those children below 2 years of age are especially vulnerable to suffer from malnutrition. Maximum children were referred by doctors, highlighting the need for increased surveillance and detection by frontline healthcare workers.