Incidence and predictors of mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to therapeutic feeding units in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To estimate the mortality rate and identify predictors of mortality among under-five children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) admitted to therapeutic feeding units (TFUs) in Ethiopia.Methods We searched PubMed, HINARI, Science Direct, Google Scholar and African Journals Online from 1...

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Main Authors: Amanuel Adugna, Gossa Fetene Abebe, Desalegn Girma, Melsew Setegn Alie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-06-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/6/e090902.full
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author Amanuel Adugna
Gossa Fetene Abebe
Desalegn Girma
Melsew Setegn Alie
author_facet Amanuel Adugna
Gossa Fetene Abebe
Desalegn Girma
Melsew Setegn Alie
author_sort Amanuel Adugna
collection DOAJ
description Objective To estimate the mortality rate and identify predictors of mortality among under-five children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) admitted to therapeutic feeding units (TFUs) in Ethiopia.Methods We searched PubMed, HINARI, Science Direct, Google Scholar and African Journals Online from 1 March to 30 May 2024. The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used to appraise the included studies. Heterogeneity was identified using I2 statistics. Funnel plots and Egger’s tests were used to determine publication bias.Results Out of 1085 studies, 15 were included in this analysis. The pooled mortality rate among under-five children with SAM admitted to TFUs in Ethiopia was 8.32 per 1000 person-days of observation (95% CI: 6.25 to 11.06). The mortality rate has not changed over time. HIV infection (HR: 2.84; 95% CI: 1.25 to 6.42), tuberculosis (HR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.35 to 2.56), intravenous fluid use (HR: 3.37; 95% CI: 2.39 to 4.75), altered body temperature (HR: 4.47; 95% CI: 1.90 to 10.51), impaired consciousness (HR: 2.91; 95% CI: 1.94 to 4.37), not receiving F-100 supplementation (HR: 4.51; 95% CI: 3.25 to 6.26), shock (HR: 4.20; 95% CI: 2.92 to 6.04), and nasogastric tube feeding (HR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.67 to 2.44) were predictors of mortality.Conclusion The pooled mortality rate in Ethiopia was 8.32 per 1000 person-days, and it has not decreased over time. Most of the identified factors are related to comorbidities and complications of SAM, as well as nutritional therapy. Thus, it is essential to strengthen nutrition policies, programme implementation and healthcare services, which focus on the timely management of SAM complications, integrated care for comorbidities and improved F-100 supplementation.PROSPERO registration number CRD42024555014.
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spelling doaj-art-fa2e2aacefcf4b15a74365a06b7fac5f2025-08-20T03:31:07ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-06-0115610.1136/bmjopen-2024-090902Incidence and predictors of mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to therapeutic feeding units in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysisAmanuel Adugna0Gossa Fetene Abebe1Desalegn Girma2Melsew Setegn Alie3Department of Midwifery, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan Teferi, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan Teferi, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan Teferi, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan Teferi, EthiopiaObjective To estimate the mortality rate and identify predictors of mortality among under-five children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) admitted to therapeutic feeding units (TFUs) in Ethiopia.Methods We searched PubMed, HINARI, Science Direct, Google Scholar and African Journals Online from 1 March to 30 May 2024. The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used to appraise the included studies. Heterogeneity was identified using I2 statistics. Funnel plots and Egger’s tests were used to determine publication bias.Results Out of 1085 studies, 15 were included in this analysis. The pooled mortality rate among under-five children with SAM admitted to TFUs in Ethiopia was 8.32 per 1000 person-days of observation (95% CI: 6.25 to 11.06). The mortality rate has not changed over time. HIV infection (HR: 2.84; 95% CI: 1.25 to 6.42), tuberculosis (HR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.35 to 2.56), intravenous fluid use (HR: 3.37; 95% CI: 2.39 to 4.75), altered body temperature (HR: 4.47; 95% CI: 1.90 to 10.51), impaired consciousness (HR: 2.91; 95% CI: 1.94 to 4.37), not receiving F-100 supplementation (HR: 4.51; 95% CI: 3.25 to 6.26), shock (HR: 4.20; 95% CI: 2.92 to 6.04), and nasogastric tube feeding (HR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.67 to 2.44) were predictors of mortality.Conclusion The pooled mortality rate in Ethiopia was 8.32 per 1000 person-days, and it has not decreased over time. Most of the identified factors are related to comorbidities and complications of SAM, as well as nutritional therapy. Thus, it is essential to strengthen nutrition policies, programme implementation and healthcare services, which focus on the timely management of SAM complications, integrated care for comorbidities and improved F-100 supplementation.PROSPERO registration number CRD42024555014.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/6/e090902.full
spellingShingle Amanuel Adugna
Gossa Fetene Abebe
Desalegn Girma
Melsew Setegn Alie
Incidence and predictors of mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to therapeutic feeding units in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BMJ Open
title Incidence and predictors of mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to therapeutic feeding units in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Incidence and predictors of mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to therapeutic feeding units in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Incidence and predictors of mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to therapeutic feeding units in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Incidence and predictors of mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to therapeutic feeding units in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Incidence and predictors of mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to therapeutic feeding units in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort incidence and predictors of mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to therapeutic feeding units in ethiopia a systematic review and meta analysis
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/6/e090902.full
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