title: Management of children with severe acute malnutrition: experience of Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers in Uttar Pradesh, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of facility-based care for children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of data.
  
  
  METHODS
  12 NRCs in Uttar Pradesh, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children admitted to NRCs (Jan 1, 2010 - Dec 31, 2011).
  
  
  METHODS
  Detection and treatment of SAM with locally-adapted protocols.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survival, default, discharge, and recovery rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  54.6% of the total 1,229 children admitted were boys, 81.6% were in the age group 6-23 months old, 86% belonged to scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, or other backward castes, and 42% had edema or medical complications. Of the 1,181 program exits, 14 (1.2%) children died, 657 (47.2%) children defaulted, and 610 (51.7%) children were discharged The average (SD) weight gain was 12.1 (7.3)g/kg body weight/day and the average (SD) length of stay was 13.2 (5.6) days. 206 (46.8%) children were discharged after recovery (weight gain >15%) while 324 (53.2%) were discharged, non-recovered (weight gain <15%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NRCs provide life-saving care for children with SAM; however, the protocols and therapeutic foods currently used need to be improved to ensure the full recovery of all children admitted.
authors.affiliation: Child Nutrition and Development Programme, UNICEF, New Delhi; *Child Nutrition and Development Programme, UNICEF, Uttar Pradesh; #National Rural Health Mission, Uttar Pradesh; MLB Medical College, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, and BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh; India. Correspondence to: Dr. Karanveer Singh, UNICEF; 73, Lodi Estate, New Delhi, 110003, India. ksingh@unicef.org.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Badgaiyan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranjan
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Dixit
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaushik
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kushwaha
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Aguayo
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000628:therapy*; D015430:Weight Gain