THE TREATMENT OUTCOME OF INFANTS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OF AGE WITH UNCOMPLICATED SEVERE ACUTE MALNUTRITION (SAM) FED WITH SUPPLEMENTARY SUCKLING TECHNIQUE IN KHARTOUM, SUDAN

Abstract

It is worth noting that 20 million children suffering from severe malnutrition are less than five years old, and 3.8 million of them are less than six months old. In Sudan the stunting rate was above 30 % that is classified by World Health Organization (WHO) as ‘high ‘. The Supplementary Suckling Technique may seem easy in theory, but find it difficult to apply, as the method must be well explained to the mother and supported to succeed in using it. A prospective hospital-based study was done between January1st to December31st, 2020 among randomly selected infants less than 6 months of age with SAM following breastfeeding failure. Infants’ anthropometric indices were daily measured and recorded. Supplementary suckling technique was used in the management with high or low protein-based milk formula as DF100 or F75. The outcome of these infants was recorded as cured, died, defaulter or in no recovery state. The male infants represented 22 (59.5%) of the total infants (37) with a male to female ratio of 1.47: 1. It was noticed that 18 (48.6%) of infants were in the age group 2-4 months, and 8 (21.6%) SAM infants in the age groups of > 4 and < 6 months while 11 (29.7%) SAM infants in the age groups of < 2 months. About 78.4% of SAM infants aged less or equal to 4 months. Improving breastfeeding practices effectively are needed. Severe acute malnutrition in infants less than 6 months can be managed successfully as inpatients with an adopted protocol. SAM infants less than 6 months of age with D F 100 and F 75 feeding using Supplementary Suckling Technique have shown improvement in their weight gain.