Effect of Leveraging Community-level Structures to Strengthen Prevention, Screening and Treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition in Ethiopia

What this Trial Is About

This research focuses on severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children aged 6 to 59 months, addressing the low treatment coverage for this serious condition. The study aims to evaluate an intervention called R-SWITCH, which uses community groups to enhance prevention, screening, referral, and treatment of SAM. The goal is to improve outpatient treatment program (OTP) coverage, understand challenges in implementing the intervention, and assess its cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The R-SWITCH intervention includes monthly group meetings of community groups called Alliance for Development (AFD) involving caregivers. It introduces weight-for-age Z-score <-3 as a new screening criterion and promotes family-led mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening, as well as SAM awareness among fathers, community, and religious leaders. The intervention also involves follow-up and counseling during home visits by AFD leaders for children referred for SAM, those enrolled in OTP, and those who have recovered. Communication between health extension workers and AFDs is strengthened to support these efforts. Participants will be monitored over 24 months, with assessments including screening coverage, treatment coverage, growth monitoring, caregiver knowledge, vaccination status, and dietary factors. Researchers will measure SAM treatment coverage, adherence to treatment, weight gain, and treatment outcomes such as drop-out or recovery rates. This comprehensive data collection aims to provide insights into the intervention's impact and to support efforts to reduce child malnutrition.

Increasing the Coverage of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) Treatment in Ethiopia