TIME TO RECOVERY FROM MODERATE ACUTE MALNUTRITION AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG 6 UP TO 59 MONTHS CHILDRENTARGETED FOR SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING IN HEALTH POSTS OF CHIRO WOREDA, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Acute malnutrition continues to be a major global public health problem, affecting an estimated 51.5 million children aged under five years and being associated with 12.6% of all under five child mortality. For every severe acute malnutrition, there will be eight moderate cases. However, there is no study that has assessed the time recovery of moderate acute malnutrition and its associated factors in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. Objective: This study aimed to assess the time to recovery from moderate acute malnutrition and associated factors among 6- to 59-month-old children targeted for supplementary feeding in Chiro Woreda, West Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia, from July 01 to 20/2023.Methods: A retrospective cohort study design was conducted on 341 of children aged 6–59 months selected by systematic sampling technique. Data was collected using a structured, pre-tested questionnaire. The data was cleaned, coded, entered into Epi-data 3.1 software, and transferred and analyzed using SPSS computer software version 20. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate the recovery rate. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to determine the association between the independent and the outcome variables. Finally, a variable with a P value <0.05 in the multivariate Cox regression model was considered statistically significant. Results: An overall recovery rate was 73.8% (95% CI: 69.3–78.7%) with a median time to recovery of 16 weeks among acute malnutrition was included in this study. Factors such as being between the ages of 24 and 59 months (AHR = 1.31, 95%CI: 1.02–1.70), being new at admission (AHR = 1.76, 95%CI: 1.15–2.69), walking for an hour or less to receive (AHR = 1.31, 95%CI: 1.01–1.70), having regular treatment follow-ups (AHR = 2.09, 95%CI: 1.42–3.07) and having access to transportation (AHR=1.48; 95% CI: 1.13-1.95) were found to be significant factors of time to recovery. Conclusion: This study pointed out that the proportion of recovery from moderate acute malnutrition was relatively low. Factors such as ages between 24 and 59 months, being a new at admission, walking for an hour or less to receive services, regular treatment follow-ups, transportation access, and latrine availability were predictors of time to recovery. Therefore, we advise suitable and sufficient regular follow-up and accessible targeted supplementary feeding and improve the treatment outcomes and mortality and morbidity associated with moderate acute malnutrition.