Case management of kwashiorkor: An intervention project at seven nutrition rehabilitation centres in Malawi

Abstract

Objectives: (1) To improve case management of kwashiorkor at seven Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) through 2-4 weekly paediatric supervisory visits. (2) To evaluate the impact of the use of routine tube-feeding and a micronutrient supplement (Nutriset). Design: An intervention project with descriptive clinical data in which Nutriset was introduced halfway through the project, and routine tube-feeding at one NRC was compared to no tube-feeding at a similar one. Setting: NRCs located at two central hospitals, two district hospitals and three rural clinics in southern Malawi. Subjects: 1625 consecutive kwashiorkor admissions from January-December 1995. Results: The overall case-fatali..