Effectiveness of Enriched Flour in the Recovery of Children Aged 6 to 59 Months with Moderate Acute Malnutrition

Abstract

Introduction : In Chad, malnutrition is a silent emergency. Yet the use of local products in the fight against malnutrition is essential. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of locally sourced enriched flour in the re covery of children 6 to 59 months of moderate acute malnourishment compared to Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (Plumpy’ Sup) in the city of Abéché- Chad. Methodology : This study took place from 1 October 2021 to 31 January 2022 in the city of Abéché, capital of the province of Ouadda ï . It was conducted in eight (8) urban health centers in the city of Abéché and concerned eighty (80) children with moderate acute malnutrition. It was based on a consumption assessment of two complementary foods by two groups of children. The assessment of nutritional status was made through anthropometric data such as weight, height and brachial perimeter. Results : All 80 children were tested for moderate acute malnutrition. Two compleme ntary foods have been used which are locally produced flour and the Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food. The study showed that the group 1 who consumed the locally produced flour had an average weight gain of 1100 g and the group 2 who consumed the Plumpy sup had an average weight gain of 400 g. Conclusion : The present study carried out in Abéché allowed us to compare the effectiveness of locally produced weaning flours with Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods on moderate malnourished child weight growth in the nutritiona l units of the town of Abéché.