Impact of a CMAM Intervention on Demand for Other Primary Health Care Services in Katsina State, Nigeria

Azeez Afebu Oseni,Wale Falade

doi:10.11648/j.ajbls.20210905.14

Abstract

Malnutrition in both acute and chronic forms is a global issue responsible for as much as 50% of infant mortality worldwide. Acute malnutrition exists as both moderate and severe forms depending on factors such as access to nutritious meals and maternal care practices. Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) can be easily treated and has lesser mortality impacts compared to Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) is a community-based approach to addressing SAM and MAM. In this study, the impact of a donor funded CMAM intervention delivered through primary healthcare (PHC) facilities in Katsina state, Nigeria is measured. Prior to this study, there was low utilization of these facilities due to the several factors such as transportation and communication problems, traditional conservatism, poor quality of services, and low literacy rates. A randomised sampling method was used to select and compare 5 CMAM and 5 non-CMAM facilities across the state. A test for significance for two independent groups (CMAM supported and non-CMAM supported sites) was also conducted for different categories of admissions such as antenatal care (ANC), outpatient department (OPD) and routine immunization (RI). From the result, it is concluded that the CMAM intervention increased the rate of patient access and use of PHCs within the state. The test of significance also shows significant differences between the admissions for OPD, ANC, and RI when compared to non-CMAM sites.

Highlights

Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) is the treatment of acute malnutrition using a communitybased approach that achieves wider access and coverage, and aims at early detection and referral of identified cases
The trends of admission for CMAM and non-CMAM sites have been observed across selected primary healthcare facilitates in Katsina state
This was done to ascertain the impact of a community nutrition (CMAM) intervention across the state

Summary

Introduction

Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) is the treatment of acute malnutrition using a communitybased approach that achieves wider access and coverage, and aims at early detection and referral of identified cases. Cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) without medical complications or Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) are treated with nutrient-dense foods and ready-to-use therapeutic foods to regain the lost nutrients due to malnutrition at the shortest possible time [1]. SAM cases have more negative impacts and affect an estimated 19 to 26 million children under 5 years globally and contribute to almost 1 million child deaths each year [2]. Other studies record that SAM kills children nine times more than nourished children, and MAM kills children three times more [3]. While CMAM has its origins in emergency contexts, non-emergency levels of SAM can be quite high, if not higher than in emergency settings [2, 4]. CMAM is implemented through Primary Health Care (PHC) structure as an integrated process which can vary from context to context [5]

Methods

Results

Conclusion