Abstract:
The relapse of severe acute malnutrition is one of the problems encountered in
managing of children with severe acute malnutrition. The proportion of children who relapsed after
severe acute malnutrition treatment varied greatly from 0% to 37% across varying lengths of time
following discharge. The evidence surrounding post-discharge outcomes after initial recovery
from severe acute malnutrition are limited but tends to highlight poor health and nutrition
outcomes, including relapse.
Objective: To identify magnitude of relapse after cure for severe acute malnutrition and
associated factors among children of 6-59 month in Kurfa Chele District, Eastern Ethiopia.
Methods: A community based cross-sectional study were collected among 6-59 months children
after discharge from Outpatient treatment program and stabilization center for severe acute
malnutrition in the Kurfa Chele District, Eastern Ethiopia. Primary data were collected from
mothers/ care givers/ after cases were identified from health management information system
report and outpatient or stabilization center registration. The Nutritional Assessment tools of
household food insecurity access scale, Dietary diversity score and food consumption score were
used to identify household food security status. The collected data were double entered into
EpiData Version 3.02 statistical software and exported to the SPSS Version 22 statistical package
for analysis. The odd ratio was reported with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was used to measure
the strength of association with a level of statistical significance was declared at p-value less or
equal to 0.05.
Results: Out of 223 study participants 11.36%, 95% CI: (4.50%, 29.06%), among children
recovered and relapsed in the past one year. On multivariable logistic regression, having edema on
admission [(OR=10.02; 95% CI: (1.6 - 61.8)], household water source from spring [(OR=15.9; CI
(2.2 - 18.3)] and children living in food insecure household [(OR=1.85; 95% CI (1.23, 2.80)
identified as factors of relapse after cure from severe acute malnutrition.
Conclusion: The magnitude of relapse after cure for severe acute malnutrition is 11.36% within
one year of post discharge. More than one in ten children were cured from severe acute
malnutrition but relapse within one year of post discharge. Detail assessment, and targeted
counselling and follow up is need especially on children admission and discharge with edema and
from household with food insecuri
