title: Program responses to acute and chronic malnutrition: divergences and convergences.
abstract: Program approaches for addressing acute malnutrition and those for addressing chronic malnutrition have grown in different directions. Their specialization has led to productive advances in the efficacy of specific interventions but has also created divergences in implementation. Greater convergence and integration between the 2 sets of approaches would help programs respond to the diversity of conditions faced in the field and enable a more comprehensive continuum of care from prevention to treatment. After reviewing the causes of the differences in approach, this paper examines programmatic and scientific challenges to greater convergence and suggests steps to promote effective integration of acute and chronic malnutrition services. Steps include strengthening community linkages between program platforms, assessing the degree and type of integration needed in various situations, identifying cost efficiencies, and developing joint tools where possible.
authors.affiliation: Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Project, FHI Development 360, LLC, Washington, DC, USA. gbergeron@fhi360.org
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Castleman
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003906:Developing Countries; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000379:methods