Severe acute malnutrition in children aged under 5 years can be successfully managed in a non-emergency routine community healthcare setting in Ghana

Abstract

This study investigated the performance of community-based management of severe acute malnutrition (CMAM) within routine healthcare services in Ghana. This was a retrospective cohort study of n = 488 children (6–59 months) who had received CMAM. Data for recovery, default, and mortality rates were obtained from enrolment cards in 56 outpatient centres in Upper East region, Ghana. Satisfactory rates of recovery of 71.8% were reported. Children who were enrolled with higher mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) ≥11.5 cm had seven times greater chance of recovery compared with children who were enrolled with lower MUAC <11.5 cm, OR = 7.35, 95% CI [2.56, 21.15], p