Outcome and Mortality of Hospitalized children with Severe Acute Malnutrition at Aden, Yemen

Abstract

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is considered a common cause of morbidity and mortality among children in low- and middle-income countries, being responsible for 45% of deaths among under-five children. The aim of the study was to determine the outcome and mortality of severe acute malnutrition among hospitalized children in Aden, Yemen. This is a descriptive, retrospective study. The studied population includes hospitalized children of both sexes with SAM admitted to the nutritional unit of Al-Sadaka General Teaching Hospital/Aden during the period from January 1st to December 31st 2021. Of a total of 537 under 5 years, males constitute 53.4% over females 46.6%. In this study, 509 children had a favorable clinical evolution, while 28 deaths were recorded. This corresponds to a mortality rate of 5.2%. The most common cause of death is due to Acute diarrhea in 60.7% of cases. Mortality is higher among males 67.8 % than females and high 85.7% among children < 24 months. Of these 28 deaths, most mortality cases occurred in the non-edematous type of SAM in 89.3% of cases. The most common nutritional feeding formula was F75 in 66.3% of cases. Only 28% of cases achieved target weight; edema had been resolved in 75.8% of cases of edematous SAM at discharge. Severe acute malnutrition remains a severe public health problem, and it mainly affects children under 24 months. A national policy of nutritional intervention should be implemented.