Effectiveness of Out-patient Therapeutic Program on Nutrition among Under Fives: A Retrospective Study of Kisumu East District, Kenya

Abstract

Abstract Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP) has been implemented with great success. Monitoring and evaluation against program objectives is integral. This study aimed to assess effectiveness of OTP program in Kisumu East District and identify factors influencing its effectiveness. In a retrospective longitudinal study targeting malnourished children 6–59 months registered in OTP, information on type of malnutrition, HIV status, cure rate, defaulter rate, death rate, non-response, average weight gain and Average Length of Stay (ALOS) in the program were abstracted from hospital records of 420 eligible children between January to December 2009; selected by systematic random sampling. Proportions of Marasmus, Kwashiorkor, and HIV were determined. Proportions of outcomes were compared against Sphere standards to assess effectiveness. Associations between type of malnutrition and …