[Effectiveness of a nutritional program based upon a ready-to-use therapeutic food in Chad]

In the health district of Goundi in Chad, 6.7% of children were affected by acute malnutrition in 2011. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a locally made ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF).

One hundred sixty-eight children were suffering from severe acute malnutrition (weight-for-height status less than -3 SD or mid-upper arm circumference less than 115mm). The RUTF was made in a specific laboratory. The product consisted of 49% carbohydrates, 33% lipids, 16% proteins, and 1.5% vitamins. Children received daily one packet of RUTF containing 500kcal as outpatient care.

At inclusion, the average age was 17.4±8.7 months, and the weight-for-height status -3.8±0.9 SD. At the end of the program, we noted recovery in 58.3% of the children, 2.4% unsuccessful treatment, 21.4% lost to follow-up, and 17.9% deaths (60% of which occurred during the first 2 weeks). At the end of the program, the weight-for-height status had increased by 2.1 SD. At recovery, children treated for tuberculosis had a higher weight-for-height status (-1.2±1.5 SD) than the children who were not infected by tuberculosis (-2±1.9 SD) (P<0.005).

Nutritional treatment using RUTF was effective. To improve treatment, early case detection should be improved, as should management of associated infectious diseases.