The impact of Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF) in targeted supplementation of children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) in South Africa
Objective: To describe catch-up growth in children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) on targeted supplementation using Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF). Methods: An impact study was done to determine anthropometric changes in children aged 12–60 months who received RUSF (175 kcal/kg/day...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2015-09-01
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| Series: | South African Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/4192 |
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| Summary: | Objective: To describe catch-up growth in children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) on targeted supplementation using Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF).
Methods: An impact study was done to determine anthropometric changes in children aged 12–60 months who received RUSF (175 kcal/kg/day) for six weeks, managed as outpatients and followed up for 12 weeks until a final assessment.
Results: Default rates were high, with 30% of children returning to the primary healthcare facility for follow-up only once or twice. Despite significant improvement in height-for-age Z-score (HAZ), weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), 70.5% of the sample remained in the same malnutrition classification and only 26% recovered. The growth velocity of children with a lower initial WHZ was significantly higher (r = –0.15, p 0.05) than those with less wasting, but only 20% grew at a rate to achieve catch-up growth. The mean growth velocity decreased as the intervention period continued.
Conclusion: All median anthropometric indicators improved with RUSF supplementation. However, catch-up growth or recovery occurred in only 20–25% of children included in the study. These findings create questions about the value of supplementation in the absence of blanket food distribution or other interventions to address food security. |
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| ISSN: | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |