Background: Over ten million children worldwide pass away from severe acute malnutrition without receiving hospital care. The death rate is still very high, even in settings where hospital care is provided in Ethiopia. The study aimed to estimate the median time to recovery and its predictors among 5-59-month-old children hospitalized at the stabilization center at the Boset District Public Health Facility in Oromia, Ethiopia, in 2023.
Methods: Prospective cohort research involving 357 kids was carried out. The study included all 6-59 months Children from local health institutions who met the inclusion criteria for severe acute malnutrition. Face-to-face interviews with structured questionnaires were used to gather data. For analysis, the collected data were imported into Epideta version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 24.Using a survival curve graph, the Kaplan-Meier method was utilized to compare the children's survival status among various predictor variables. Using Cox proportional hazard regression, time-to-recovery predictors were found. Variables nominated for multivariable analysis during bivariate analysis have p-values less than 0.25.The adjusted hazard ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to interpret the final model.
Results: The overall median recovery time from severe acute was 18.4 days (95% confidence interval: 16.6, 19.4).Adherence of healthcare providers to the national treatment protocol (AHR = 1.68; 95%, CI (1.03, 2.73) and beginning phase 2 by feeding on ready-to-use therapeutic feeding (AHR = 1.47; 95%, CI (1.04, 2.08)) were the variables that were significantly linked with the time to recovery. Vitamin A (AHR = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.07–3.29), shock upon admission (AHR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.31–0.86), and those treated with oral (PO) antibiotics (AHR = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.04–1.67).
Conclusion: Pumping down at phase 2, following the national protocol, taking vitamin A supplements, and receiving oral (PO) antibiotic treatment aid in the rapid recovery of admitted children suffering from severe acute malnutrition and the slower recovery of those in shock.
