a large-scale distribution of milk-based fortified spreads evidence for a new approach in regions with high burden of acute malnutrition大规模分布的基本成分强化传播的新证据方法的高负担地区急性营养不良.pdfVIP

A Large-Scale Distribution of Milk-Based Fortified Spreads: Evidence for a New Approach in Regions with High Burden of Acute Malnutrition 1 1 ´ 1 ´ 1 1 Isabelle Defourny , Andrea Minetti *, Geza Harczi , Stephane Doyon , Susan Shepherd , Milton 1 ´ 1 2 Tectonidis , Jean-Herve Bradol , Michael Golden ´ ` 1 Medecins sans Frontieres, Paris, France, 2 University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland Abstract Background: There are 146 million underweight children in the developing world, which contribute to up to half of the world’s child deaths. In high burden regions for malnutrition, the treatment of individual children is limited by available resources. Here, we evaluate a large-scale distribution of a nutritional supplement on the prevention of wasting. Methods and Findings: A new ready-to-use food (RUF) was developed as a diet supplement for children under three. The intervention consisted of six monthly distributions of RUF during the 2007 hunger gap in a district of Maradi region, Niger, for approximately 60,000 children (length: 60–85 cm). At each distribution, all children over 65 cm had their Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) recorded. Admission trends for severe wasting (WFH,70% NCHS) in Maradi, 2002–2005 show an increase every year during the hunger gap. In contrast, in 2007, throughout the period of the distribution, the incidence of severe acute malnutrition (MUAC,110 mm) remained at extremely low levels. Comparison of year-over-year admissions to the therapeutic feeding program shows that the 2007 blanket distribution had essentially the same flattening effect on the seasonal rise in admissions as the 2006 individualized treatment of almost 60,000 children