title: [Effectiveness of a nutritional program based upon a ready-to-use therapeutic food in Chad].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the health district of Goundi in Chad, 6.7% of children were affected by acute malnutrition in 2011. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a locally made ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred sixty-eight children were suffering from severe acute malnutrition (weight-for-height status less than -3 SD or mid-upper arm circumference less than 115mm). The RUTF was made in a specific laboratory. The product consisted of 49% carbohydrates, 33% lipids, 16% proteins, and 1.5% vitamins. Children received daily one packet of RUTF containing 500kcal as outpatient care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At inclusion, the average age was 17.4±8.7 months, and the weight-for-height status -3.8±0.9 SD. At the end of the program, we noted recovery in 58.3% of the children, 2.4% unsuccessful treatment, 21.4% lost to follow-up, and 17.9% deaths (60% of which occurred during the first 2 weeks). At the end of the program, the weight-for-height status had increased by 2.1 SD. At recovery, children treated for tuberculosis had a higher weight-for-height status (-1.2±1.5 SD) than the children who were not infected by tuberculosis (-2±1.9 SD) (P<0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nutritional treatment using RUTF was effective. To improve treatment, early case detection should be improved, as should management of associated infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: 883, rue de Verdun, 45160 Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Mesmin, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clavier-Rogez
authors.affiliation: 883, rue de Verdun, 45160 Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Mesmin, France.
authors.forename: J-B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Rogez
authors.affiliation: Hôpital de Goundi, BP 84, Sarh, Tchad.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Labrin
authors.affiliation: Réseau sécurité naissance, 2, rue de la Loire, 44200 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Branger
authors.affiliation: Pôle de pédiatrie, hôpital Sud, CHU de Rennes, 16, boulevard de Bulgarie, BP 90347, 35203 Rennes cedex, France. Electronic address: Alain.dabadie@chu-rennes.fr.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dabadie
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002596:Chad; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome