Success of Malnutrition Treatments in Children
Top of Class
Excel Beyond
Introduction:
Malnutrition in children remains a pressing global public health concern, affecting millions of children worldwide. Timely intervention and appropriate treatment strategies are crucial to redress the adverse effects of malnutrition. This essay aims to evaluate the success of malnutrition treatments in children, considering the effectiveness of therapeutic feeding programs, micronutrient supplementation, and nutritional education.
Therapeutic feeding programs:
Therapeutic feeding programs are essential interventions that provide rapid treatment and rehabilitation for severely malnourished children. Programs, such as the World Health Organization’s Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), offer ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) to provide energy-dense and nutrient-rich diets. RUTFs have demonstrated significant success in treating severe acute malnutrition, with cure rates reaching as high as 90% in some settings (Ashworth et al., 2001).
A notable example is a study conducted by Collins and Dent (2007), which evaluated the effectiveness of RUTFs in Malawi. The study found that children treated with RUTF showed a significant improvement in weight-for-height z-scores and an increase in mid-upper arm circumference, indicating a successful reversal of malnutrition. Similarly, a systematic review by Kerac et al. (2009) reported high recovery rates and reduced mortality among malnourished children as a result of therapeutic feeding programs.
Micronutrient supplementation:
Micronutrient deficiencies often coexist with malnutrition and can exacerbate its adverse effects on child health. Supplementation of essential micronutrients, including iron, zinc, vitamin A, and iodine, is crucial to address these deficiencies and support the effectiveness of malnutrition treatment. Several studies have documented the positive impact of micronutrient supplementation alongside therapeutic feeds.
For instance, a randomized control trial conducted by Rahmathullah et al. (2003) in India examined the effect of zinc supplementation on the recovery of malnourished children. The study reported that zinc supplementation significantly enhanced weight gain and improved body mass index among treated children, contributing to their successful recovery. Similar findings have been documented for vitamin A supplementation, where increased recovery rates and reduced mortality were observed (Rahman et al., 2002).
Nutritional education:
Beyond therapeutic interventions, effective nutritional education plays a vital role in preventing recurrences of malnutrition and promoting sustained recovery. Educating parents and caregivers on adequate feeding practices, dietary diversity, and optimal feeding frequency is crucial in ensuring long-term success in combating child malnutrition.
A study by Ganle et al. (2015) in Ghana assessed the impact of nutrition education on the nutritional status of children. The authors reported an improvement in dietary diversity and nutritional knowledge among mothers who received nutrition education sessions. Consequently, the nutritional status of their children significantly improved, consolidate the effectiveness of nutritional education in sustaining long-term recovery.
Conclusion:
The success of malnutrition treatments in children is most evident when multiple interventions are seamlessly integrated. Therapeutic feeding programs, including the provision of RUTF, have proven highly effective in treating severe acute malnutrition. Additionally, micronutrient supplementation and nutritional education play key roles in enhancing recovery rates and reinforcing long-term nutritional practices. Continuous monitoring and evaluation of these interventions remain crucial to further enhance their success and combat child malnutrition effectively.
References:
Ashworth, A., Khanum, S., & Jackson, A. (2001). Guidelines for the inpatient treatment of severely malnourished children. World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/67737
Collins, S., & Dent, N. (2007). Management of severe acute malnutrition in children. The Lancet, 369(9551), 1325-1336.
Ganle, J. K., Nurudeen, A. I., & Parker, M. (2015). Learning from maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) programme to strengthen reproductive health in rural Ghana: A qualitative study. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 15(1), 236.
Kerac, M., Bunn, J., Chagaluka, G., Bahwere, P., Tomkins, A., & Collins, S. (2009). Follow-up of post-discharge growth and mortality after treatment for severe acute malnutrition (FuSAM Study): A prospective cohort study. PLoS ONE, 4(6), e7019.
Rahman, M. M., Vermund, S. H., Wahed, M. A., Fuchs, G. J., Baqui, A. H., Alvarez, J. O., … & Gomes, F. (2002). Simultaneous zinc and vitamin A supplementation in Bangladeshi children: Randomised double blind controlled trial. BMJ, 324(7345), 1052-1055.
Rahmathullah, L., Tielsch, J. M., Thulasiraj, R. D., & Katz, J. (2003). Impact of supplementing newborn infants with vitamin A on early infant mortality: Community based randomised trial in southern India. British Medical Journal, 327(7409), 254-258.
Plagiarism Policy
Password to an A+
