Evaluation of the care of infants and children under 5 years with severe undernutrition at the CRENAS of Nouakchott, Mauritania

Abstract

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate the management of infants and children under 5 years with severe undernutrition in a specific ambulatory center. Materials and Methods: Four hundred infants and children under 5 years suffering from severe undernutrition were managed with a holistic medical and nutritional treatment based on antibiotics, antihelminthics, vitamin A and vaccination against measles from May to June 2013 in the Center of Ambulatory Nutritional Rehabilitation for the Severely Undernourished (CRENAS) of Nouakchott, Mauritania. Results: Overall, 400 hospitalized infants and children were evaluated. Three hundred and fourteen recovered (78%) (>75%) with a duration of hospitalization between 2 and 9 weeks (<8 weeks), 32 were still in hospital (8%) (<10%), none died (0%) (<10%) and 54 dropped out (14%) (<15%). Conclusions: The performance indicators of this medical and nutritional treatment are in conformity with the standards recommended by the Sphere Project. To improve the effectiveness of this protocol, we must reduce the abandonment of treatment and the duration of hospitalization for severely malnourished children by means of prevention and early care. This approach will become even more interesting with the inclusion of nutritionists and home monitoring.