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Published on: February 2, 2017
Assessment of Acute Malnutrition Screening Coverage Among Children Aged 6-59 Months: Evidence From a Community-Based
Meron Tamirat1, Samson Gebremedhin1, Alinoor Mohamed1
1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Public Health, College of Health Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Insights
Acute malnutrition screening coverage in Ethiopia is low at 52.8%. The Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) program significantly improves screening rates in children under five.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Global Health
Background:
- Acute malnutrition is a critical public health issue in Ethiopia, necessitating effective screening strategies.
- Existing Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) and Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) programs aim for community-level screening but face coverage limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine acute malnutrition screening coverage in Ethiopian children aged 6-59 months.
- To compare screening coverage between districts with and without the IMAM program.
- To assess the independent impact of IMAM implementation on screening coverage, controlling for confounders.
Main Methods:
- A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in June-July 2023.
- 1,440 children aged 6-59 months from 12 districts (6 IMAM, 6 non-IMAM) were included.
- Multistage cluster sampling was used, with screening coverage calculated as the proportion of screened eligible children.
Main Results:
- Overall screening coverage in the past three months was 52.8%.
- Screening coverage was substantially higher in IMAM districts (56.3%) compared to non-IMAM districts (38.1%, P<0.001).
- Children in IMAM districts had 61% greater odds of being screened (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.25-2.08, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Acute malnutrition screening coverage in Ethiopia remains low, with significant disparities.
- The Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) program demonstrably increases screening coverage among children.
- Targeted expansion of IMAM programs is crucial for improving early detection and management of acute malnutrition.
Background:
Acute malnutrition remains a major public health concern in Ethiopia, yet gaps in screening coverage hinder early detection and timely management. Through community-based management of acute malnutrition and its expanded Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) program, Ethiopia prioritized community-level screening and referral. However, progress toward achieving full and equitable screening coverage remains limited.
Objectives:
This study aimed to estimate the coverage of acute malnutrition screening among children aged 6 to 59 mo in Ethiopia and to compare the screening levels between districts implementing the IMAM program and those not implementing the program and further evaluate the independent effect of IMAM program implementation on screening coverage after controlling for potential confounders.
Methods:
A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2023 and July 2023. A total of 1440 children between the ages of 6 and 59 mo from 12 districts, 6 of which were implementing the IMAM program and 6 of which were non-IMAM districts, were included in the study. Study participants in both IMAM-implementing and non-IMAM districts were selected using a multistage cluster sampling method. Screening coverage was estimated as the proportion of children screened for acute malnutrition out of the total eligible population surveyed.
Results:
Overall screening coverage over the past 3 mo was 52.8% among children aged <5 y. Screening coverage was significantly higher in IMAM-implementing districts compared with non-IMAM districts (56.3% compared with 38.1%, P < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, children in IMAM-implementing districts had 61% higher odds of being screened compared with those in non-IMAM districts (adjusted odds ratio = 1.61, 95% confidence interval: 1.25, 2.08, P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Screening coverage for acute malnutrition remains low in Ethiopia, with marked differences between IMAM-implementing and non-IMAM districts. IMAM implementation resulted in significantly higher screening coverage among children.