Publication:

Outcome of nutritional intervention measures at a nutrition rehabilitation centre in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh

Background Nutrition rehabilitation centre (NRC) is a unit in a district health facility, where children with severe acute malnutrition are admitted and provided with nutritional and therapeutic care.

Methods Analysis of nutritional data of all the children admitted to NRC at Krishna district from January 2017 to July 2018. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS.

Results A total of 200 children were included in the study. The overall mean weight at admission was found to be 8.30 kg with a standard deviation of 2.35 kg and the mean weight at the time of discharge is 9.57 kg with a standard deviation of 2.61 kg. There is a statistically significant difference in weight and mid arm circumference at admission and discharge. Mean duration of hospital stay is around 18.67±5.4 days. Target weight is achieved in 71% of the study group.

Conclusions Present study reflects that NRCs have been playing a key role to cope up with the problem of severe acute malnutrition as demonstrated by a high rate of weight gain at discharge as well as during follow ups.