Duration of Management of a Malnourished Child Using Cow Milk

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the duration of managing a malnourished child using cow’s milk as a supplement. The study was uncontrolled before and after the study. The study was quantitative and was conducted in the Musanze health center radiation zone. The study evaluated children who were in a nutrition study follow-up commissioned by UNICEF and the Access to Health Project in 2016. The follow-up was created under the UNICEF and Access to Health Project fund for the study of their duration in management. The quantitative method was used. Non-probability sampling was used, and the purposive technique was adopted. Data were collected on 57 malnourished children admitted to the nutrition service at the Musanze health center, where 21 were in severe malnutrition and 36 were in moderate malnutrition. During their follow-up period, all malnourished children were given seven liters of cow milk per week per child. The weight-for-age and the mid-upper arm circumference were used to screen children. The study showed that when cow milk is used as the only supplement for the treatment of a malnourished child, the duration of taking a child from severe malnutrition to good nutrition took approximately double (7 months) compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) nutrition care protocol (4 months). Many children showed positive nutritional status evolutions, but some showed a negative evolution by staying in severe or moderate malnutrition. Family conflict and chronic illness are among the main causes of a negative evolution in nutritional status. The other underlying cause is the situation of hunger in families with malnourished children. The supplement of cow milk is not enough, as it takes a longer period than the period expected by the WHO. Therefore, a balanced diet together with the supplements of cow milk, SOSOMA, and RTUF can change nutrition status.