Abstract:
Background: Despite the existence of standard protocol, many stabilization centers
(SCs) continue to experience high mortality of children receiving treatment for severe
acute malnutrition. Evidence showed that in Wag-Himra zone, children with complicated
severe acute malnourished who were admitted, mortality was greater than the minimum
SPHERE (<10%) criteria for stabilization facilities. The government of Ethiopia
stabilization center program endorsed into the health system provides inpatient treatment
of malnutrition. So the study aimed to assess the implementation status of severe acute
malnutrition program at stabilization center in Wag-Himra zone public hospitals.
Methods: A single case study with a concurrent mixed method was used to evaluate the
process of severe acute malnutrition program for under-five admitted children at
stabilization center in Wag-Himra Zone public hospitals from April 8 -10th of June 2023. A
total of 27 indicators were used to evaluate the availability, compliance and acceptability
dimensions of the program. The resource inventory, 9 Key informant interview, 30 client provider interactions observations, 384 document reviews and 422 mother/caregivers’
interview were done. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were done
to identify predictor variables associated with acceptability. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)
with 95% CI, & p-value <0.05 used to declare statically significant variable.
Result: The overall implementation status of the stabilization center was 77.61% which
was measured by availability (92.4%), compliance (81.04%), & acceptability (62.58%)
dimensions. The caregiver occupation (AOR=0.51, 95%CI: 0.27.0.98), rural residence
(AOR=0.53, 95% CI (0.32-0.88)), drinkable water access in facility (AOR=0.62, 95%CI:
0.41-0.94) were stastically associated with acceptability of stabilization center program.
Conclusion and recommendation: The evaluation of the implementation status of
program was judged good. No safe drinking water, Resomal, not appetite test done for
admitted children, and half of the children’s medical history and physical examination
were not recorded that hinder the implementation status of severe acute malnutrition
program at stabilization center.so health provider adhered to treatment guideline of
malnutrition
