Predictors of recovery from severe acute malnutrition among 6-59 months children admitted to a hospital.

Background and aim: Severe acute malnutrition is a threat to child survival as mortality rates in children with severe malnutrition are nine times higher. Globally, about 19 million children are severely malnourished. This study looked at children aged 6-59 months admitted to hospital to see how quickly they recovered from severe acute malnutrition as well as what factors predicted their recovery. Methods: The study included 543 systematically chosen children with severe acute malnutrition who were admitted to the stabilization center of a hospital. Data from the patient registry were gathered using a retrospective follow-up study design. In order to find predictors of recovery, the Cox proportional hazard model was applied. Results: From 543 children, 425 (78.27%) were recovered. The median survival time was 8 days. Having grade II edema, grade III edema, and pneumonia were negatively associated with recovery. Similarly, taking ceftriaxone, cloxacillin, and being on a nasogastric tube were associated with poor recovery. Conversely, better recovery rates were linked to exclusive breastfeeding and vitamin A supplementation. Conclusion: Both the recovery rate and the median survival time fell within acceptable bounds. To boost the recovery rate, efforts are needed to lessen comorbidities.