SAM: Discharge Based on the Use of a MUAC-based Criterion to

Severe Acute Malnutrition

Retrospective analysis of routine program data of children aged 6 to 59 months admitted to the MSF therapeutic feeding program with MUAC ≤ 118 mm in Yako and Titao districts of Burkina Faso from 2007-2011.

Comparison of patient characteristics and treatment outcomes was conducted between two groups: 1) children discharged as recovered from September 2007 to March 2009 with at least 15% of their weight at admission (Period A); and 2) children discharged as recovered from April 2009 to December 2011 with MUAC ≥ 124 mm (Period B). A total of 50,841 children were admitted with MUAC ≤ 118 mm to the MSF therapeutic feeding program and were included in this analysis: 24,792 children in Period A (2007-2009) and 26,049 children in Period B (2009-2011). Overall, 89% of admissions were directly into outpatient care and the majority (53%) entered with a MUAC 116-118mm; 48% of children were male and 80% of children \< 2 years of age (Table 1). Compared to children admitted in Period A, children admitted in Period B were statistically more likely to be female, younger, and of better anthropometric status (e.g. higher mean MUAC, WHZ and HAZ). There was a greater proportion of children admitted directly to inpatient care in Period B than in Period A (10.6% vs 8.0%).

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