The Treatment Outcome of Infants Less Than 6 Months of Age with Uncomplicated Severe Acute Malnutrition Fed with Supplementary Suckling Technique in Armed Conflict Yemen

Abstract

Background Globally 3.8 million of children < 6 month of age are severely wasted. In Yemen, 2.3 million children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition in 2021 and 20% of Children under six months were affected by malnutrition during the armed conflict. Supplementary suckling reestablishes exclusive breastfeeding in infant less than 6 months of age with SAM. This study aimed to determine the outcome of employing supplementary suckling technique in treatment of uncomplicated SAM infants in a conflict-affected community. Methods A prospective hospital-based study was done between January to April 19th, 2020 among randomly selected infants less than 6 months of age with SAM following breastfeeding failure. Infants’ anthropometric indices were daily measured and recorded. Supplementary sulking technique was used in management with DF100 or F75. Outcome was recorded as cured, died, defaulter or in nonrecovery state. Results infants in this study (n=108) had a median (IQR) age of 4.0 (2.5) and a male: female ratio of 1.4. The cure rate after feeding was 80.6%, defaulters were 13 (12%), 6 (5.6%) died and 2 (1.9%) infants did not respond to treatment. Thirty-four infants (38.8%) gained weight with significantly increased median weight and median weight-for-age z score. Median weight gain rate was 10.1 g/Kg/day. The median (IQR) duration of treatment was 9 (3.8) days. The means of age and weight-for-length z score were correlated (r= -0.22, p=0.025). Duration of treatment was a predictor of outcome (OR=1.71, 95% CI=0.05-0.62, p<0.001). Conclusion Supplementary suckling technique for feeding infant with SAM aged less than 6 months had a positive impact on anthropometric indices with high cure rate. The younger the infant and the longer the duration of treatment, the better the outcome. Trial registration: Not Applicable