Screening and Management of Maternal Malnutrition in Nutritional Rehabilitation Centers as a Routine Service: A Feasibility Study in Kalawati Saran Children Hospital, New Delhi

BACKGROUND: In India, Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRCs) established at public health facilities provide residential medical nutrition therapy for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) children with complications. A large proportion of their mothers are also malnourished. NRCs do not provide services to such mothers as part of routine practice. However, technical algorithm for delivering Maternal Nutrition (MN) services in facility settings is available. OBJECTIVES: To test the practical feasibility of layering the MN services in NRC as a routine service. METHODS: The MN services were delivered by a nutrition counselor using a triage approach (assess, classify, supplement/counsel/treat). All mothers received diet, micronutrients, and group counseling, those at nutritional risk received individual counseling and SAM mothers also received catch-up diet during their stay. Program data were collected from mothers during January 1 to August 31, 2019 at the NRC in Kalawati Saran Children Hospital. To gain operational insights, a structured interview with nutrition counselor was conducted. RESULTS: Out of 168 mothers, 8% were found to be pregnant and 89% were at nutrition or medical risk. The prevalence of short stature was 18%, severe/thin 21%, overweight/obese 34%, and anemic 72%. Feedback from the nutrition counselor indicated no operational challenges, however, further efforts to ensure that mothers keep coming back for follow-up visits is needed. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that existing staffs were able to deliver the MN services within the time, cost, and regime of the routine NRC. This paper provides four recommendations for layering the MN services in NRCs.