Effectiveness of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food in Improving the Developmental Potential and Weight of Children Aged under Five with Severe Acute Malnourishment in Pakistan: A Pretest-Posttest Study

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess whether the standard therapy of ready-to-use therapeutic food in the treatment of uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is effective in improving developmental potential and weight gain in children aged under five years. A multicenter pretest-posttest study was conducted among 91 children aged under five with uncomplicated SAM in Pakistan. Study participants completed their eight weeks’ therapy of ready-to-use therapeutic food according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) standard guidelines. The study outcome was the proportion of children with improved developmental potential in all domains in comparison with the pretreatment status and children gaining >15% of their baseline weight; mean weight-for-height/length z-score after completing eight weeks’ therapy of ready-to-use therapeutic food. The Denver Development Screening Tool II was used for developmental screening. Significant changes (p < 0.05) were observed for developmental status milestones in terms of gross motor, fine motor, and personal/social milestones, as well as language and global development milestones. There was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.961) between initial weight and weight at the last visit (p < 0.001). Ready-to-use therapeutic food is effective in improving development potential as well as promoting weight gain in children aged under five with uncomplicated SAM if provided according to WHO guidelines.

Effectiveness of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food Among Children With Protein-Calorie Malnutrition

“…Likewise, MUAC was also observed to have a net increase of 11.2±0.9 mm (p<0.0001). A recent study from Pakistan enrolling 91 children with SAM under the age of five years revealed that RUTF not only influenced significant weight gain among malnourished children but also improved the developmental potential of the malnourished children [ 17 ]. These findings are also consistent with what has been found in other studies conducted in Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Ghana [ 16 , 18 , 19 ].…”

“…In this study, we observed that 81.7% of children with PCM were aged less than two years. Exposure to malnourishment in the infancy period is thought to cause a high risk of developmental delay in the later years of life as infancy and toddlerhood are known to be periods of rapid development and are influenced by socio-demographical and environmental issues [ 17 , 22 ]. For the treatment of malnourished children, community-based interventions for addressing acute malnutrition like RUTF is effective.…”

Relationship of stunting with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices among children under the age of five: a cross-sectional study in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

“…The OTP center of the teaching hospital Dera Ghazi Khan was selected for data collection. The selected area is underdeveloped, with substandard housing due to poverty and illiteracy, overcrowded poor socioeconomic conditions, malnutrition, and unhygienic living conditions [ 17 ]. The data were collected by the consultant pediatrician with the help of a lady health worker.…”

Double-Blind Parallel Treatment Randomized Controlled Trial of Prebiotics’ Efficacy for Children Experiencing Severe Acute Malnutrition in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

“…Compared to other developing countries, Pakistan ranks among the worst in the prevalence of malnutrition among children under five years of age [5], causing high rates 2 of 14 of infant and under-five mortality rates. According to estimates by the Government of Pakistan, the infant mortality rate is 57 deaths per 1000 live births, while the under-five mortality rate is 65.2 deaths per 1000 live births.…”