Effect of Positive Deviance Hearth Intervention on Acute Malnutrition Persistence among Children under Five in Burera District, Rwanda

BackgroundPositive Deviance Hearth is considered as a good approach to use existing and available resources to address malnutrition at the community level.ObjectiveThe present study aimed to determine the effect of Positive Deviance Hearth on persistent acute malnutrition management among children under five in Burera District.MethodsA comparative quasi-experimental study was conducted in Burera district. One hundred ninety six (196) participants were selected purposively. Nutrition status of children who attended Positive Deviance Hearth sessions for 12 consecutive days were measured and compared with children who were not in the HEARTH intervention.ResultsThe majority (55.6%) of children in both groups were male. The prevalence acute malnutrition persistence was significantly higher (52.0%) among the non-HEARTH intervention compared to those in the HEARTH intervention area (20.4%). In reduced model of the multivariate analysis, persistence of acute malnutrition was 87% higher among children in the non-Hearth intervention compared to those in Hearth intervention (AoR= 0.13; 95%CI: [0.05-0.35], p<0.001).ConclusionThe use of Positive Deviance Hearth model was significantly associated with low prevalence of malnutrition persistence; therefore, it should be adopted by the Ministry of Health. Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2022;5(2):180-188