Survival Status and Its Determinants among Under-Five Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition Admitted to Inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centers in South Wollo Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Under nutrition is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in under-five children in developing countries including Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, many children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are treated at inpatient therapeutic feeding centers. However, the survival status and its determinants are not well understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the survival status and its determinants among under-five children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to inpatient therapeutic feeding centers (ITFCs). METHODS: A record review was conducted on 414 under-five children who were admitted with severe acute malnutrition to ITFCs in South Wollo Zone, northeast Ethiopia, between September 11, 2014, and January 9, 2016. Data were entered into Epi-Info version 7.2 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Life table analysis was used to estimate cumulative proportion of survival. The relationship between time to recovery and covariates was determined using Cox-proportional hazards regression model. p < 0.05 was used to declare presence of significant association between recovery time and covariates. RESULTS: Of the total children recorded, 75.4% of children were recovered and discharged, 10.3% were defaulters, 3.4% died, 7.4% were nonresponders, and 3.4% were unknown. The mean (±standard deviation) time to recovery was 12 (±5.26) days, whereas the median time to recovery was 11 (interquartile range of 8–15) days. Children's breastfeeding status at admission (AHR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.83) and children without comorbidities at admission (AHR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.00) had statistically significant effect on time to recovery from SAM. CONCLUSION: All treatment responses in this study were within the recommended and acceptable range of global standards. Policy makers, health facilities, and care providers may need to focus on the importance of breastfeeding especially for those under two years of age and give emphasis for cases with comorbidities.