The primary goals of Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRCs) are to recuperate malnourished children and improve caretakers’ child-feeding practices. Children participating in NRCs in Accra, Ghana were studied longitudinally at four time points: admission, mid-program participation, discharge and post-discharge. The majority of mothers (78%) discontinued program participation before their child was officially discharged. At discharge (official or voluntary), >60% of the children had weight-for-age (WAZ), weight-for-height (WHZ) and or height-for-age (HAZ) z-scores <-2. Mean WAZ (p<0.05) and WHZ (p<0.003) significantly increased between admission and discharge. The mean increases in WAZ and WHZ between discharge and post-discharge were less significant (p<0.07). Mean HAZ did not improve by discharge; however, children with increased HAZ were more likely to have been officially discharged from the NRC program (p<0.03). The proportion of children’s meals containing cereals used by the NRCs and fish powder significantly declined at post discharge (p<0.02). Poor retention of participants and other programmatic factors may be an important constraint to the effectiveness of NRC programs in Ghana to fully recuperate malnourished children and promote changes in caretakers’ child-feeding practices.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Nutrition, Children
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.