Research paper
Ready-to-use therapeutic food for home-based treatment of severe acute malnutrition in children from six months to five years of age.
Study answer
What this study found
Evidence was limited and did not support a definitive overall conclusion across RUTF strategies. RUTF meeting full daily requirements improved recovery versus standard diet, with RR 1.32 (1.16 to 1.50) and weight gain MD 1.47 g/kg/day (95% CI 0.49 to 2.45), while mortality was similar, RR 0.97 (0.46 to 2.05). By contrast, RUTF used only as a supplement to the diet reduced recovery versus full daily RUTF, RR 0.71 (0.60 to 0.84), and the lower-milk-powder RUTF formulation did not clearly change recovery versus standard RUTF, RR 0.97 (0.93 to 1.01), though relapse was higher, RR 1.33 (1.03 to…
- Study & population
- Systematic review of randomized trials in children aged 6 months to 5 years with severe acute malnutrition treated in home-based settings in Malawi.
- Intervention
- Home-based ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) was given to children with severe acute malnutrition, either to meet full daily requirements or as a supplement to their usual recovery diet.
- Key limitation
- The evidence base was small and limited to Malawi, reducing generalizability.
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
BACKGROUND Malnourished children have a higher risk of death and illness. Treating severe acute malnourished children in hospitals is not always desirable or practical in rural settings, and home treatment may be better. Home treatment can be food pr…