Comparative Analysis of the Survival Status and Treatment Outcome of Under-five Children Admitted with Severe Acute Malnutrition Among Hospital-based and Health Center Based Stabilization Centers, South Ethiopia

Severe acute malnutrition has been managed at Hospital stabilization centers until the management at health center based stabilization centers was started recently. However, the treatment outcome was not assessed in relation to the existing hospital-based management. Therefore, this study comparatively assessed the treatment outcome and survival status of severe acute malnutrition among Health center-based and hospital-based stabilization centers. The finding will be used by healthcare providers, planners and policymakers at large.

Randomly selected 400 records of under-five children admitted to five stabilization centers (2 hospitals and 3 health center) in Gedeo Zone was included. Data was entered by Epi Info version 7 and analyzed by STATA version 11. Survival difference was checked by life table and Kaplan-Mier with Log-Rank test. Cox proportional hazards model was built by forward stepwise procedure; compared to likely hood ratio test and Harrell’s concordance and fitness checked by the cox-snell residual plot.

The study showed that the cumulative probability of Survival is significantly different at Hospital stabilization center and health center stabilization centers (p.value <0.001) with shorter survival at hospitals. During the follow-up period, 28(13.86%) children from hospital and 5(2.5%) children from health center died, while 155(76.73%) children from the hospital and 145(73.23%) children from health center got cured. Eighteen (4.5%)children were defaulted. Death is significantly higher at the hospital, while default rate and cure rate are not significantly different. Altered pulse rate [AHR=2.44, 95% CI =1.47-4, p<0.001], NG tube insertion [AHR=1.8, 95% CI =1.04-3.1, p=0.038], Anemia [AHR=1.53, 95% CI =1.02-2.3, p<0.041] and Hypoglycemia [AHR=2.78, 95% CI =1.8-4.3, p<0.001] were found to be independent predictors of death.

The survival of children in hospital is shorter and mortality is higher. An overall treatment outcome was in acceptable ranges. Intervention to further reduce deaths at hospitals has to focus on children with comorbidities and altered general conditions and early detection.