Abstract:
Background: Malnutrition refers to deficiencies or excesses in nutrient intake, imbalance
of essential nutrients or impaired nutrient utilization. Although, there is international and
national agreed upon reference on times for recovery from severe acute malnutrition
(SAM) and moderate acute malnutrition, there is wide range of gap in different areas,
health facilities and cases.
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the time required to recovery
from severe acute malnutrition and its predictors in children aged 6-59 months treated at
outpatient therapeutic program in Mojanawedera District North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia.
Methods: A health facilities based retrospective follow up study was conducted in
Mojanawedera District health facilities. The data were abstracted from January 1, 2020 to
December 30, 2022 from medical records of the child, OTP card and SAM register. A
total of 276 samples were included in this study. Records were selected by systematic
random sampling technique. A structured data abstraction form was used for data
collection. The data were checked, coded and entered into EpiData version 4.2 and
analyzed by SPSS Version 25. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were computed to
determine factors associated with time to recovery from severe acute malnutrition.
Kaplan-Meier and Log rank test was used to test whether the observed difference is
significant or not. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered as significant.
Results: The recovery rate was 80.4% with the median recovery time 57 days with an
Interquartile range of (42-: 90) days. The independent predictors of time to recovery from
severe acute malnutrition were: age [AHR=1.49, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.98], distance from
health facilities [AHR=2.98, CI: 2.45: 4.4] , had no diarrhea [AHR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.27:
2.11], had no anemia [AHR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.03: 1.71], dewormed [AHR=2, 95% CI:
1.47: 2.7] , vitamin A supplementation [AHR=2, 95% CI: 1.47: 2.7] and fully immunized
[AHR=1.85, 95%CI: 1.61: 2.07] times more likely recover faster.
Conclusion: The median time-to-recovery was 57 days. Age, distance from health
facilities, presence of diarrhea and anemia, vitamin A supplementation, deworming and
fully immunization were independent predictors to time-to-recovery from SAM. District
health office and program managers need to give emphasize on strengthening; routine
immunization, Provision of Vitamin A and deworming for all children.
Key words: Recovery time, SAM, Children aged 6-59 month, predicto
