High burden of co-morbidity and mortality among severely malnourished children admitted to outpatient therapeutic programme facilities in the conflict setting of Borno, Nigeria: a retrospective review

Abstract

ObjectiveTo present evidence on the burden and outcomes of co-morbidities among severely malnourished (SAM) children admitted to outpatient therapeutic programme (OTP) facilities in the conflict setting of Borno, Nigeria.DesignRetrospective medical chart review.SettingFacility-based study.ParticipantsChildren aged 6–59 months with SAM enrolled in OTP between June and November 2016 whose medical records were analysed. Only pneumonia and diarrhoea were examined due to data limitations. Stata software was used for descriptive, multivariate and survival analyses.ResultsRecords of 396 children with median age of 15 months were identified and analysed from the date of enrolment to exit from OTP. Mean length of stay in OTP was 61d, with co-infected SAM children having shorter stay (P=0·006). Of the total, 148 (37·4 %) had at least one co-morbidity (pneumonia or diarrhoea), of which thirty-nine (26·4 %) had both. Cumulative rate of mortality during follow-up time was 9·5 (95 % CI 6·0, 15·1) per 10 000 child-days; SAM children with co-morbidities were ten times more likely to die than those without (hazard ratio=10·2; 95 % CI 3·4, 31·0). In multivariable analysis, co-morbidity (P=0·01), oedema (P=0·003), dehydration (P=0·02) and weight on admission (P=0·01) were associated with mortality. Both recovery and defaulter rates (57·8 and 36·1 %, respectively) did not meet SPHERE standards.ConclusionsChildren with SAM and co-morbidities are less likely to survive, presenting a significant barrier in improving child survival. The findings call for integrated OTP models that incorporate clinical algorithms and ensure prompt referral for SAM children with co-morbidity.

Management of Complex Emergencies in Global Health

“…Similarly, SAM with underlying medical conditions such as pneumonia or diarrhea is shown to be associated with higher mortality. In one study conducted among internally displaced populations (IDP) in Boko Haram conflict-affected northern Nigeria, children with SAM and comorbidities were ten times more likely to die than those without (Chamla et al 2019).…”