A trend analysis of weight gain during the nutritional recovery period of severe acute malnutrition among children.

Background: Undernutrition, a significant global health concern, affects children under 5 years old. It encompasses stunting, wasting, and nutritional deficits. In India, 35.5% of children are stunted, 32.1% are underweight, 19.3% are wasted, and 7.7% are severely wasted. Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a critical form of undernutrition. Nutritional Rehabilitation Centers (NRCs) provide medical and nutritional assistance to malnourished children, using therapeutic feeding diets like F-75 and F-100. Anthropometric measurements track progress during hospitalization, ensuring effective interventions.

Aims: The aim of the study is to determine the rate at which weight gain occurs in children during the nutritional recovery period.

Methods: Total enumeration of children admitted to the Nutritional Rehabilitation Center from May 2022 to April 2023 were taken under study, and data was collected from the case records. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize the data. Paired t-test was used for comparison of the mean.

Results: Nearly equal proportions of boys (52.6%) and girls (47.4%) were included, with the majority under 24 months old. The mean duration of stay was 14.26 ± 1.75 days. The average total weight gain was 0.87 ± 0.27 kg, with girls gaining slightly more (0.86 ± 0.29 kg) than boys (0.88 ± 0.25 kg). The rate of weight gain was 8.56 ± 3.16 g/kg/day, higher among girls (8.92 ± 2.68) than boys (8.24 ± 3.53). Around 46.7% achieved > 15% target weight gain.

Conclusion: The study highlights gender disparities favoring better nutritional recovery among girls and younger children at NRCs, advocating for early interventions to reduce undernutrition morbidity and mortality.