Relapse of Acute Severe Malnutrition after Discharge from Outpatient Treatment Program in Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract Background: Relapse is one of the difficulties in managing severe acute malnutrition in children under the age of five. The evidence on post-discharge outcomes following initial recovery from severe acute malnutrition is still limited. As a result, the purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude of relapse after cure for severe acute malnutrition from the Outpatient Treatment Program and associated factors in children aged 6-59 months in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 223 children aged 6 to 59 months after discharge from an outpatient treatment program and stabilization center for severe acute malnutrition in the past one year. Primary data collected from mothers/caregivers in the Kurfa Chelle district were identified through health management information system reports and outpatient or stabilization center registration. The children's anthropometric, socioeconomic, and feeding practices were collected and analyzed, the data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to STATA version 14.2. The Adjusted Odds Ratio was calculated to identify associated factors, and a p-value of 0.05 at the 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 223 study participants according to this study, 11.36% of children recovered and relapsed in the previous year, 95% CI: (4.50%, 29.06%). Presences of Edema on admission (OR=10.02; 95% CI: 10.02 (1.6 - 15), drinking water from a spring source (OR=15.9; CI (2.2 - 18.3), and children living in food insecure households (OR=1.85; 95% CI (1.23, 2.80) were identified as risk factors for relapse after cure from severe acute malnutrition. Conclusion: Within three months of discharge, the magnitude of relapse after cure for severe acute malnutrition is 11.36%. As a result, community-based screening and therapeutic interventions should be strengthened in order to closely monitor the household care for children discharged from the health facility after being cured of SAM, with special attention paid to children from food insecure households and using unprotected sources.