Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM): A Vicious Socio Economic Problem in South India

Introduction: Out of 19 million SAM child in all developing countries, 8 million (42%) are in India.

Materials and Methods:

i.Study type: Observational

1. Study design: Observation model – cohort, Time perspective-prospective.

• Study centre: Basaveshwar and Sangameshwar teaching hospital.

1. Study duration: august 2017 -september 2018

Informed consent was obtained from the parents of all the children.

Aims and Objectives:

• To evaluate the clinico-epidemiological profile, complications, and comorbidities of SAM children.
• To identify the socio-demographic risk factors of SAM and
• To evaluate the outcome of hospitalized SAM children.

Results:

oMean age of admitted children was 17.21±13.94 months and mostly belonged to lower socio-economic scale, rural areas and large families.

o9.2% were less than 6 months at time of admission.

oMale: female ratio was 1:1.24. Most common associated infections were acute respiratory tract infections (35.27%), and diarrhoea (31.75%). oAnaemia was an important co-morbidity (83.52%).

oMean duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 3.1± 1.8 months and mean age of starting semi-solid complementary food was 8.5±2.5 months.

oMost commonly used supplementary food was over diluted cow milk (92%).

o Cure rate was 75.24%. Defaulter rate was 13.65% and death rate was 0.63%.

Conclusion: The problem of SAM is multidimensional and tertiary care centres provide life-saving care for children as demonstrated by the high survival rates.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SAM CHILDREN

LITERACY STATUS OF MOTHER

ECONOMIC STATUS OF SAM CHILDREN

AWARENESS OF MALNUTRITION

IMMUNISATION STATUS

RESIDENCE(URBAN/RURAL)