Abstract
Objective: To assess the nutritional impact of a Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplement (LNS) and an Improved Dry Ration (IDR) in blanket supplementary feeding programs. Design: Longitudinal, quasi experimental non-randomized study Setting: Otash and Al Salaam internally displaced persons camps, South Darfur, Sudan Subjects: Children aged 6-36 months were randomly selected for inclusion in the study based on height cut-off of 95 cm and were anthropometrically assessed (weight-for-height z scores [WHZ] based on WHO standards, edema presence, and midupper arm circumference) monthly. IDR was distributed in Otash camp and LNS in Al Salaam. Main findings: At baseline, 658 and 893 children were enrolled and 159 and 187 children were assessed at all 4 distributions in Otash and Al Salaam camps, respectively; There was no significant difference in mean WHZ between the two groups at baseline, (Otash=-1.18 and Al Salaam=-1.03, p=0.17). Children receiving LNS had higher mean WHZ than those receiving IDR. Significant differences were detected at months 2-4, for the mean WHZ of the LNS cohort, and at 4 months, for the difference of the difference in mean WHZ (-0.23) between camps, p= 0.02. Conclusions: LNS may be an option for preventing acute malnutrition in humanitarian settings, however research is needed on the timing, duration of use and cost effectiveness.
Highlights
Acute malnutrition, defined as a Weight-for-Height Z score (WHZ) of
Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplement (LNS) may be an option for preventing acute malnutrition in humanitarian settings, research is needed on the timing, duration of use and cost effectiveness
Between 36 and 41 million children suffer from moderate acute malnutrition (WHZ≥-3 and
Summary
Acute malnutrition, defined as a Weight-for-Height Z score (WHZ) of
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