Treatment outcome and associated factors for severely malnourished children (1–5 years) admitted to Lacor Hospital and Gulu Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda

Abstract

Globally, severe acute malnutrition (SAM) accounts for >1/3–0⋅5 of deaths in children <5 years, and approximately 54 % deaths in developing countries. The minimum international standard set for the management of SAM is a cure rate of at least 75 % and death rate <10 %. The present study was conducted to determine treatment outcome and associated factors among children 1–5 years hospitalised with SAM in Lacor and Gulu Regional Referral Hospital (GRRH) in 2017. A retrospective observational method supplemented with a qualitative inquiry was done. A total of 317 patients’ records were reviewed in either hospital; checklist data were analysed using SPSS version 16 with P-values <0⋅05 considered for statistical significance. The case fatality rate (CFR) was 12⋅6 % (GRRH) and 9⋅5 % (Lacor). The average length of stay (LOS) was 14⋅69 d (GRRH) and 14⋅10 d (Lacor). There was statistical significance between Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) status, blood transfusion, type of SAM, treatment provision at admission, antibiotics, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), hospital category and treatment outcome. In total, ten key informants were interviewed and they reported the presence of co-infections and severity of SAM complications as having an important bearing on treatment outcome. A significant proportion of patients were discharged not cured 19⋅9 % (Lacor) v. 16⋅4 % (GRRH). The CFR in GRRH was higher than the WHO recommendation. The LOS in both hospitals was within recommended. These results provide a generalisable problem in most African hospitals and could explain the persistently high rates of SAM in Africa.

Introduction

Globally, severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is associated with poor outcomes. Malnutrition is known to cause growth retardation, impair psychosocial and cognitive development and increase the risk of disease and death. Some studies have shown prolonged hospitalisation⁽¹⁾.

In 2011, out of the thirty-three countries that accounted for 90 % of the global burden of malnutrition, twenty two were from Africa⁽²⁾. In Uganda, 14 % of children are severely stunted, 2 % are severely wasted and 3 % are severely underweight⁽³⁾. In Gulu, there is an SAM prevalence of 0⋅7 % (0⋅3–1⋅1 %)⁽⁴⁾. Globally, SAM accounts for >1/3–0⋅5 of all deaths in children under 5 years and approximately 54 % deaths in developing countries⁽⁵⁾. The minimum international standard set for the management of SAM is a case fatality rate (CFR) less than 10 %⁽⁶⁾. However, the case fatality rates in hospitals treating SAM in developing countries have remained high at 20–30 %⁽⁷⁾ inspite of existing clinical management protocols capable of reducing these rates^(7,8) . A retrospective study to determine the treatment outcome of severely malnourished children in St. Mary's Hospital Lacor, Northern Uganda, showed a CFR of 11⋅9 %⁽⁷⁾.

Limited research data exist on treatment outcomes for SAM children admitted to hospitals in northern Uganda. This research aimed to provide data on Gulu Regional Referral Hospital (GRRH) and Lacor Hospital and advice on the minimum average length of stay (LOS) in hospital and Case Fatality Rates and guide hospital management and inpatient care policies so as to address factors that contribute to poor treatment outcome of these children.

Methods

Study design

This will be a hospital record-based retrospective observational study supplemented with a qualitative inquiry

Ethical standards disclosure

Since it was a retrospective study that did not involve human research participants, ethical approval to access the data was provided by the Gulu University Research and Ethics Committee and approvals obtained from the administration of Gulu Regional Referral and Lacor Hospitals. No written or verbal consent was involved.

Study variables

Dependent variable

Length of hospitalisation, discharge status.

Independent variables

Type of SAM, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) status, complications of SAM, time of commencement and nature of treatment etc.

Sample size

The present study was carried out from GRRH and Lacor Hospital. Lacor Hospital is a private not-for-profit (PNFP) entity located in Gulu district 6 km west of Gulu town along the Highway to Sudan, about 6 km from GRRH. According to the hospital's manual for 2008/2009, Lacor Hospital saw an influx of 225 616 clients treated as inpatients with children below five making up 44⋅5 % of the total attendance and a CFR of 4⋅8 %. Lacor Hospital has a well-facilitated SAM unit on its paediatric ward where the present study was carried out. GRRH is located in Gulu town and is one of the 13 public regional referral hospitals in Uganda. The hospital serves the Acholi sub-region comprising the districts of Gulu, Amuru, Kitgmu, Lamwo and Pader. The hospital manual for 2008/2009 puts the average bed occupancy rate at 220 and an annual inpatient admission of 15 896. The study was carried out on the SAM unit of the paediatrics ward. Professional cadres providing care include nursing officers, medical doctor interns and medical officers.

The records of severely malnourished children aged 1–5 years previously admitted to hospital from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017 were selected from the Therapeutic Feeding Center (TFC) register book and patients’ cards obtained. Children who had weight-for-height less than −3 Z-score, nutritional oedema and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) <11⋅5 cm were considered Severely Malnourished. For children who defaulted on treatment and those with incomplete hospital records of anthropometric measurements (weight, height, MUAC), demographics were excluded from the study. Children with documented secondary under-nutrition, except HIV, e.g. cerebral palsy and those with oedema unrelated to malnutrition were excluded. Patient cards were assigned random numbers with the sample size arrived at by selecting the numbers randomly without replacement. The sample size was estimated using the Keish Leslie formula (1965)

$$N = {{\left( {{Z^2}PQ} \right)}} \over {{{D^2}}}$$

where N is the minimum sample size; Z = 1⋅96 (confidence interval of 95 %); P is an average cure rate in admitted under-five children with SAM; and it is 75 %⁽⁹⁾; Q = 1−P; D is the maximum error (0⋅05); so, N = 288, assuming 10 % documents could not be found, sample size will be 288 + 29 = 317.

N.B: 317 was the sample size in each of the two hospitals. Of all the children admitted in 2017, twenty five children in Lacor and fifty eight in GRRH met the exclusion criteria. This number was mostly contributed by incompletely filled records.

For qualitative data, the sample size for the study participants recruited for Key Informant Interview was estimated through the selection of participants until a saturation point was reached. First, a list of staff with their duration of service with SAM was obtained. Only medical personnel with greater than 3 months of service with SAM were selected for the interview. These were interviewed by a team of three medical personnel and a nutritionist until the responses were constant. In total, five key informants were interviewed at each hospital. To ensure consistency in assessment, all members were present during interviews at the two hospitals, with the lead interviewer remaining the same. The checklist for empirical data was adopted from a study on SAM⁽⁷⁾ after review by a nutritionist. The questionnaire for qualitative data was designed by a nutritionist so as to ensure the quality and reliability of information collected.

Statistical analysis

Information was recorded on a checklist format and data analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 16. Categorical variables were summarised as frequencies and proportions, while continuous variables as means and standard deviations (sd). χ² test and t-test were used to measure the strength of association between the factors considered and the dependent variables. A P-value less than 0⋅05 was considered for statistical significance.

Results

Empirical data

In Lacor Hospital, 415 children aged 1–5 years were hospitalised in 2017 (v. 378 at GRRH), and 390 met the selection criteria (v. 320 in GRRH) from which a sample size of 317 was raised in either hospital. The percentage of males admitted at either hospital was 59 %. Only 18⋅3 % (8⋅8 % in GRRH) were HIV positive and a greater proportion of children had infection at admission 56⋅5 % (80⋅8 % at GRRH) (Table 1). Of the 317 SAM children hospitalised, almost two-thirds 70⋅6 % (71 % in GRRH) were successfully discharged as cured (P = 0⋅96, χ² 0⋅002), 9⋅5 % (12⋅6 % in GRRH) died (P = 0⋅23, χ² 1⋅429) and 19⋅9 % were not cured (16⋅4 % in GRRH) (Table 2). The average LOS (days) was slightly higher in GRRH 14⋅69 ± 7⋅42 (v. 14⋅1 ± 7⋅33 in Lacor), with patients staying more in the stabilisation phase than in the rehabilitation phase (Table 3). The mean age for the children in GRRH was 24 months (25 in Lacor), while the mean height of children was 80 (77 in Lacor). There was no difference in the mean weight and MUAC between hospitals (Table 3). Overall, the average ages for SAM patients who died, cured and those not cured were 21⋅7, 24⋅7 and 26⋅1 months, respectively (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Treatment outcome per SAM type.

Table 1. Socio-demographic characteristics of participants

Table 2. Comparison of the status at discharge in GRRH and Lacor Hospital

Table 3. Comparison of mean ± standard deviation of selected continuous variables between Lacor and Gulu Regional Referral Hospitals

Table 4 shows the significant differences in factors compared between GRRH and Lacor Hospital. At multivariate analysis, significant factors associated with treatment outcome (CFR & LOS) are shown in Table 5.

Table 4. Comparison of the selected continuous variables between the two hospitals

Table 5. Factors associated with treatment outcome

HIV negative children were more likely to be cured compared with their HIV positive counterparts in both hospitals, GRRH (76⋅5 v. 14⋅3 %) and Lacor (74⋅5 v. 53⋅4 %); (P < 0⋅001; 95 % CI 0⋅44–0⋅70). HIV positive children were more likely to die compared with their HIV negative counterparts in both hospitals, GRRH (71⋅4 v. 26⋅9 %) and Lacor (44⋅8 v. 1⋅5 %) (Table 6).

Table 6. Relationship between HIV status and discharge status in Lacor and Gulu Regional Referral Hospitals

Qualitative data

Key informant interviews

Gulu Regional Referral Hospital

We interviewed staff on the malnutrition unit of GRRH; a total of 5 key informants were interviewed at which the responses to the given questions were no longer differing. Only 20 % (1/5) of the respondents were aged between 21 and 30 years, 20 % (1/5) aged 31–40 and 60 % (3/5) aged between 41 and 50 years. A total of 60 % (3/5) of respondents were male. Professional cadres included in the present study involved two nursing officers, two medical interns and one medical officer. A total of 80 % (4/5) of the respondents had worked for 2–3 months on the paediatric ward, while one nurse had worked for over 10 years.

All health workers reported that the children admitted at the malnutrition unit fulfilled the World Health Organisation (WHO) definition of SAM (having either an MUAC <11⋅5 cm or nutritional oedema⁽¹⁰⁾).

All respondents, 100 % (5/5), reported that daily admissions ranged from 1 to 4, with one respondent reporting that this depended on the season of the year: ‘The daily admission depends on the season, e.g. every year, March through July, admissions are higher.’

The respondents reported a variable time of initiation of treatment of SAM children from admission, with 40 % (2/5) reporting that treatment was initiated immediately on admission and 40 % (2/5) reporting that it was initiated after 1 h from admission, with only 20 % (1/5) reporting that the time depended on the workload and the health workers present to give treatment at a particular time.

All respondents unanimously stated that feeding formulas and medication were available. All of them, however, reported that the availability of medication varied throughout the month, with one key informant reporting that, ‘Drugs are present at the start of the month but decrease towards the end.’

All of the respondents, 100 % (5/5), reported about the inadequacy of investigative and diagnostic capacity in the hospital, with two of them saying that, ‘Most times machines in the lab are down,’ and another emphasising on the inadequacy of facilities and the challenges being faced by the lab in managing SAM. Yet another reported that, ‘Not all of the diagnostic equipment are available.’

All respondents reported that, while on ward, all SAM patients are regularly monitored and followed up and that patients are discharged only after appropriate weight gain and the attainment of a good appetite.

Five out of five (100 %) of the respondents reported a longer period of stay for SAM patients compared with their counterparts hospitalised for other conditions without SAM, with one reporting that, ‘SAM patients spend 21 days, other conditions about five days.’ Another respondent reported a range of 2–4 weeks for SAM patients compared with their counterparts who spend about 2–5 d in hospital.

There was a unanimous response to the availability of training sessions for health workers, with all of the respondents stating that they are available and are regularly done.

All respondents commented on a prolonged LOS and poor discharge status for SAM children admitted with co-infections. They also agreed that this can be improved by aggressive treatment of these co-infections.

During our interview, responses on how to improve the outcome of SAM children that were suggested by key informants included: early initiation of treatment stated in only 12⋅5 % (1/8) responses, 50 % (4/8) responses advised on adequate supply of medications and availability of diagnostics, 2/8 (25 %) advocated on community sensitisation on nutrition health education and counselling with increased workforce, while one respondent emphasised on the treatment of co-infections.

Lacor

A total of 5 key informants were interviewed, with 60 % (3/5) of the respondents aged between 21 and 30 years, 20 % (1/5) aged 31–40 and 20 % (1/5) aged between 41 and 50 years. A total of 80 % (4/5) were females. A total of 60 % (3/5) were intern doctors, and only 20 % (1/5) were nurses and one medical officer. A total of 80 % (4/5) of the respondents had worked in a paediatric ward for a duration of 1–6 months, while one had a duration of 1 year.

Two-fifths (40 %) of the responses included the presence of nutritional oedema in children to be managed as cases of SAM, 40 % (4/10) stated a Muac of <11⋅5 cm, and one respondent included the presence of complications associated with SAM (such as hypoglycaemia) for children to be admitted.

A majority of respondents (3/5) reported daily admissions ranging between 6 and 10, with 40 % reporting about 1–5 daily admissions.

There were differences in the time of initiation of treatment on admission, with three respondents stating 1 h, while the other two stating 30 min.

All respondents reported about the availability of feeding formulas, medications, and good diagnostic facilities and about the fact that patients are monitored regularly, with one respondent stating that, ‘Nurses are ever around during serving and feeding of children.’

The responses on the criteria for discharge of SAM patients were varied and included weight gain as suggested by 40 % (2/5) of the respondents, patients who pass the appetite test, 40 % (2/5), and those who complete the resolution of nutritional oedema, which was suggested by 20 % (1/5) respondents.

There was a unanimous response suggesting an increased LOS in hospital for SAM patients compared with their counterparts of the same age admitted to other wards.

All respondents reported on the availability of training sessions leading to an improvement in the condition of SAM patients, with one reporting that, ‘Yes, they are available around 1 every 3 months.’

All respondents reported that co-infections prolong the LOS of SAM children in hospital and result in poor discharge status.

There was a reported link between the LOS and discharge status of SAM children, and an aggressive management of co-infections and SAM, in general, increased the chances of survival, as reported by all of the respondents.

Concerning the improvement of treatment outcome for SAM patients, about 40 % (2/5) of the respondents suggested an increase in the frequency of training sessions on SAM management, 33 % (2/5) of the respondents recommended immediate initiation of treatment on admission with direct patient assessment at the malnutrition unit, and 20 % (1/5) of the respondents suggested that health workers should be motivated through better pay and other kinds of remuneration.

Discussion

The average LOS in GRRH was 14⋅69 d (14⋅10 in Lacor) (P = 0⋅31; CI −0⋅56 to 1⋅75). This is within the WHO recommendation of less than 30 d for children hospitalised with SAM. This indifference in LOS between the hospitals could be explained by the similarity in age, sex distribution and anthropometric measurements of the study participants together with the common adoption of the WHO management protocol for SAM children by both hospitals. A study done in Mulago Uganda⁽¹⁾ reported a higher LOS; this could be because the study included patients with other chronic causes of SAM like cerebral palsy. Despite the satisfactory average LOS, the maximum duration of stay in hospital was long; 45 d in GRRH (57 in Lacor). This is because both sites are referral centres with a heterogeneity of cases.

The CFR was 12⋅6 and 9⋅5 % in GRRH and Lacor Hospital, respectively. This is regarded as poor and moderate, respectively⁽¹¹⁾. However, the present study reported a reduction in the CFR of 2⋅4 from that depicted by the findings of Nyeko et al.⁽⁷⁾. This may be attributed to an increased health workforce and diagnostic capacity at Lacor Hospital over the year. The high CFR in GRRH agrees with the findings of Bartz et al.⁽¹⁾ in Mulago, Uganda. Resource availability may need to be standardised in both hospitals so as to facilitate the best quality of SAM care.

Though the difference in CFR between the hospitals was not statistically significant (P = 0⋅23, X ² 1⋅429), the higher CFR in GRRH is explained by the inconsistency in the availability of diagnostic modalities for life-threatening comorbidities like severe anaemia, as noted by the responses of the key informants from GRRH, and the higher retention of patients in hospital since services are free of charge. This is in agreement with the results reported by Burns et al.⁽¹²⁾ in the USA, depicting a generally increased mortality for patients treated in government hospitals compared with private aided hospitals.

A high proportion of SAM children were not cured; 16⋅4 % in GRRH (19⋅9 % in Lacor) (Table 2). This could be explained by a higher proportion of HIV-SAM co-infection among children hospitalised causing more clinical complications⁽⁷⁾. In addition to the fact that Lacor Hospital is a private not-for-profit institution that imposes medical service charges and hence patients may opt for self-discharge before completing treatment, the hospital also caters to a wider population (including distant referrals from other regions of the country) compared with GRRH, and this could also explain the slightly higher non-cure rate there.

Factors significantly associated with CFR include the following: HIV status, blood transfusion, the type of SAM, treatment provision at admission, sex, antibiotics administration, MUAC patients at admission, the hospital of treatment and the time of treatment initiation from admission. The association of HIV status with SAM treatment outcome is in keeping with the findings of Nyeko et al.⁽⁷⁾ at Lacor Hospital, Uganda. A study by Blossner and Onis⁽¹³⁾ also showed a significant relationship between the severity of anthropometric deficits and the risk of mortality among SAM patients. The association between CFR and blood transfusion is in agreement with the findings by Gebremichael et al.⁽¹⁴⁾ that showed increased deaths in children who received blood transfusions. The same study demonstrated the significance of antibiotics on treatment outcome. Vitamin A supplementation was not independently associated with mortality in SAM patients at multivariate analysis. This is in agreement with the findings by Smith et al.⁽¹⁵⁾ in Tanzania (P = 0⋅54; CI 0⋅92–1⋅16).

Factors significantly associated with LOS include: SAM type, antibiotic administration, and vitamin A and iron supplementation during the rehabilitation phase. Children with oedematous SAM usually have poor appetite, reduced food intake and recovery time. This was also in agreement with a study by Agarwal et al.⁽¹⁶⁾ in which the SAM type affected the LOS, the frequency of readmissions and in-hospital CFR. Antibiotic provision at admission reduces infection and LOS; this is in line with the findings of Chisti et al.⁽¹⁷⁾. The study found an association between Vitamin A supplementation and LOS similar to a study by Lannotti et al.⁽¹⁸⁾ that explained the role of vitamin A in re-epithelialization of body surfaces and boosting immunity. LOS was not independently affected by MUAC and HIV status, and this was also in keeping with findings⁽¹³⁾.

Conclusion

The average LOS for SAM children in GRRH and Lacor of 14⋅69 and 14⋅10 d, respectively, is satisfactory compared with the WHO recommendation of less than 30 d. The CFR of 12⋅6 % for children hospitalised in GRRH is still higher than the WHO recommendation of less than 10 %. However, the mortality of 9⋅5 % in Lacor is fair. At both Lacor and GRRH, a significant proportion of patients with SAM are discharged not cured (19⋅9 v. 16⋅4 %), a portion of which is contributed by those who opt for discharge before treatment completion, as well as non-response to treatment. The CFR for children hospitalised with SAM in both hospitals is still high, an issue of public health concern.

HIV infection contributed significantly to mortality in children hospitalised with SAM in addition to the type of SAM, iron and vitamin A supplementation, antibiotic administration, MUAC, the presence of co-infection and the time of treatment initiation all at admission, hospital category and blood transfusion.

Facilitation in SAM is key to good treatment outcomes.

Recommendations

Further research on the effect of Viral Load and CD4 cell count for SAM patients at admission on treatment outcome: With this, we recommend routine CD4 and Viral load for all HIV patients admitted with SAM, a guideline for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Proper home-based care guidelines for children with SAM should be drafted and communities sensitised.

Study limitation

Recording bias of secondary data by health professionals.

Being a retrospective study, other factors that have an important bearing on treatment outcome, including biochemical laboratory parameters and health system factors (diagnostic capacity, knowledge and skills, referral system and patient monitoring) among others, were analysed only by hearsay (Key Informants) in this study.