Abstract:
Background:
Globally, it is estimated that there are nearly 20 million children with acute severe acute malnutrition;
most of them live in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia is one of the countries in the subSaharan Africa with the highest rates of severe acute malnutrition. Understanding multidimensional
burden of malnutrition; it is clear that prevention and treatment is critical to child survival and
development. Therefore ministry of health Ethiopia implemented Outpatient therapeutic feeding program
which brings improvement for management of severe acute malnutrition by availing service closer to the
community by the use of ready to use therapeutic foods.
Evaluation Objective: To assess, if operational objectives of severe acute malnutrition management
program has been achieved as intended at selected five health centers in Seka Chekorsa, Woreda, Jimma
zone, 2017
Methods: Cross-sectional study design with both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods
was employed to assess Outpatient Therapeutic feeding Program from March one to twenty 2017. Study
participants were Health Workers who offer service, Health Extension workers, and program focal person
at health centers and program coordinator at Woreda health office. Data was collected through clinical
document review (n=384), clinical care observation (n=50) and key informant interview (n=12).
Descriptive and logistic regression analysis was used to express the result of study on program
components and possible effects of the program also qualitative data were analyzed manually to support
quantitative findings. All evaluation processes were undertaken after ethical clearance was obtained from
Jimma University and conducted by respecting rules, ethics and culture of community
Result: Resources needed for the program was partially distributed. Ready to use Therapeutic food was
available in all Health Centers, essential drugs were not available and medical equipments were fairly
available. The conformity of health workers to program guideline was rated as fair based on both
qualitative and quantitative findings. The program was effective as most of clinical outcome results were
within acceptable range of sphere standards. Results of main clinical outcomes were; cure rate 82.5
percent, death rate 2.9 percent, defaulter rate 8.7 percent, average weight gain rate was 5.12gm/Kg/day
and average length of stay in the program was 48.28days.
Conclusions
Even though result of this Objective Oriented Evaluation of Outpatient Therapeutic feeding program is
rated as good by scoring 81.7% based on judgment parameter; the necessary resources needed for
effectiveness of program and also issues related to provision of service as per national program standards
needs attention
