Treatment of Undernutrition

number of children under 5 admitted for treatment of Severe or Moderate Acute Malnutrition

This indicator counts the number of children under 5 years who are admitted for treatment of severe or moderate acute malnutrition (SAM or MAM). It helps us monitor the burden of acute malnutrition and provides a direct measure of the number of young children suffering from SAM/MAM who are accessing treatment services. While it doesn’t measure overall coverage (the proportion of all malnourished children in the population who are receiving treatment), it provides important data on the absolute numbers accessing care.

Determine the indicator's value by using the following methodology:

 

1) Identify relevant treatment programmes: Identify the active programmes within the project's scope/timeframe that are providing treatment for SAM and/or MAM in children under 5 years. These programmes could include:

• Outpatient Treatment Programmes: For the treatment of SAM cases without complications;

• Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programmes (TSFP): For the treatment of MAM cases;

• Inpatient Treatment Programmes or Stabilisation Centres: For treatment of SAM with complications.

 

2) Check the admission records (register/logbooks): Each treatment programme should have a robust system for recording the admission of children under 5 with SAM and MAM.

 

3) To calculate the indicator's value, aggregate the number of children who are admitted for treatment of MAM or SAM for the specified reported period (monthly, quarterly, annually).

Disaggregate the data by type of treatment programme (OTP, ITP, TSFP), gender, age (children 0-5 months, 6-23 months and 24-59 months), and specific vulnerable groups.

1) Determining this indicator relies on consistent and accurate data collection at the individual child level at each treatment site and a system for regular aggregation of this data at the project level. Admission criteria should be consistent with national and international guidance.

 

2) It's important to note that this indicator focuses on the number of admissions, not the total number of children currently being treated or the outcomes of the treatment.

 

3) Children who are transferred to outpatient treatment after inpatient care should be counted only once to avoid double-counting.

 

4) The intensity and effectiveness of community outreach and active case finding efforts will directly impact the number of children admitted. Changes in these activities must be noted.