Perceptions of stakeholders on the use of a simplified, combined protocol for treatment of acute malnutrition in Central African Republic

Bibliographic Data

ID15537286
AuthorsFrancis Ngure (0000-0003-1785-8129, corresponding author), Francis M Ngure (Nutrition Research Consultant Nairobi Kenya), Zachary Tausanovitch (International Rescue Committee), Grace Heymsfield (0009-0004-2614-2215, International Rescue Committee), Siolo Mada Bebelou (University of Bangui), Parfait Seboulo (University of Bangui), Benedict Tabiojongmbeng (University of Bangui), Anne Marie Dembele (University of Bangui), Issa Niamanto Coulibaly (Mali-Folkecenter), Victor Nikièma (0000-0001-8334-8579, World Food Programme), Jeanette Bailey (0000-0002-4343-4939, International Rescue Committee), Suvi T Kangas (0000-0003-1477-7649, International Rescue Committee)
Year2024
Volume21
Issue1
Pagese13743-e13743
Publication date2024-10-17
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMaternal and Child Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1740-8695 • E-ISSN: 1740-8709
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/mcn.13743
PMID39417422
OpenAlexW4403490158
LanguageEN
References cited13

Treatment of acute malnutrition requires novel approaches to improve coverage, reduce costs and improve the efficiency of standard protocols that separate the management of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM). The use of simplified, combined protocols to treat both MAM and SAM has drawn research and policy interest among global, regional and national stakeholders. However, the perspectives of local communities and health care workers regarding the use of protocols to treat acute malnutrition in a routine health care system are generally lacking. This was a cross-sectional mixed-methods study aimed at assessing the perceptions of different stakeholders on the use of a simplified, combined protocol in two districts in the Central African Republic. Most of the respondents preferred the simplified, combined protocol over the standard protocol. They generally agreed that the protocol was easy to understand, allowed more children to receive treatment and was effective in treating acute malnutrition. The protocol modifications were well received, including the expanded admission criteria, use of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) only for admission and discharge criteria and reduced and simplified ready-to-use therapeutic food quantity to treat MAM and SAM. Some caregivers expressed concern with the use of MUAC only to declare recovery, flagging that underlying illnesses could still be present. The caregivers recommended the provision of other food basket interventions to improve the treatment. The support by caregivers and health care workers on the idea of training community health volunteers to treat acute malnutrition points to the potential of scaling up decentralized treatment to increase coverage in remote areas

Acute care · Alternative medicine · Economic growth · Environmental health · Health care · Intensive care medicine · Malnutrition · Protocol (science · Psychological intervention · Severe Acute Malnutrition · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine · Nursing

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