Prevalence of Severe Acute Malnutrition and Associated Mortality Rate in Infants in Tertiary Care Hospital of Hyderabad

Aims: In developing countries malnutrition is characterized as one of the major risk factors for death in children, due to improper management of cases, lack of resources and escaping the guidelines provided by WHO. However, it is also highlighted that prompt treatment and proper management can reduce the mortality rate and improve the quality of life in children. Current study is designed to investigate the frequency of SAM and its outcomes at time of discharge in tertiary care hospital of Hyderabad.

Study Design: A cross sectional study was performed.

Place and Duration of Study: Study was performed at nutritional stabilization center of pediatric department of tertiary care hospital Hyderabad from July 2019 to Jan 2020.

Methodology: Preformed proforma was designed to record the data of participants that included demographic and primary outcome variable. Hospital protocols using WHO guidelines i.e. 10 steps for in-patient care of severe malnutrition were started & followed with feeding F-75 & F-100. Data was analyzed on SPSS-19, p-value <0.05 was considered as significant.

Results: Mean age of the study participant was 13 ± 6.3 months while majority of them were male (72%). About 70% participants were below normal as per weight to height ratio. Out of recruited participants (N=273) admitted in nutritional center prevalence of severe acute malnutrition was found to be 32.6%. After admission and management protocols 91.6% recovered however, mortality was observed in 8.9% participants.

Conclusion: We conclude that effective and prompt treatment measures and appropriate management of affected patients according provided guidelines shown decrease in mortality and increased the survival rate in admitted children.