Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is defined as weight-for height ratio of less than -3 standard deviations below the median reference population or weight-for-height ratio of below 70% or Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC ) <110 mm or presence of nutritional edema1.

Until recently, acute malnutrition was seen primarily as a feature of humanitarian emergencies. This is despite of the fact that most cases occur in non-emergency contexts. But in recent years, donors, as well as developing countries with a high-burden of undernutrition, have started to pay more attention to the issue2.

While the treatment of SAM is well established and evidence-based 34, achieving desired outcomes has proven to be challenging. Particularly , effective management of SAM is a huge challenge in low resource healthcare settings and more effective strategy is needed urgently5.

On the other hand, even after children are recovered from SAM, attention is required at home in order to prevent relapsing. For instance, from a study conducted in Shebedido district, Southern Ethiopia; of the total admissions to the OTP, 22% were readmitted cases6. The observed high proportion of readmission may be due to lack of affordable complementary food supplements at home 7.

Aim and objectives: Determine recovery time from severe acute malnutrition among children and develop soy bean and maize-based complementary food supplements fortified with Moringaoleifera.

Study area and design: Institution based retrospective cohort study was conducted from March– April, 2016 at Felegehiwot referral hospital, in Bahir Dar city administration, Northwest Ethiopia. Currently, the hospital is the only health facility which provides inpatient services for the management of severe acute malnutrition in the study area.

Sample size and sampling procedure: Using Epi info version 6 StatCalc programs, a double population proportion formula was employed to calculate the sample size and it was estimated to be 401. All children 6-59 months of age with SAM who had been admitted and treated at therapeutic feeding unit (TFU) of the selected hospital from October 2012 to April 2016 were eligible for the study. The total admitted children during this period were 526. Since the difference between the calculated sample size and total admitted SAM cases was small, all SAM cases were considered until the sample size got saturated.

Data Collection and Quality Control Measures: A structured data abstraction form (pretested on 10 charts) was used for data collection. Data were abstracted from client cards.

Data processing and analysis: Data were checked and entered in to Epi-info version 7 statistical software and then exported to Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20 for analysis. Recovery time from SAM was estimated using Kaplan-Meier procedure.

Out of the total 401 children in the cohort; 208(51.9%), 17(4.2%), 143(35.7%), 6(1.5%) and 27(6.7%) were cured, died, defaulted, not responded and transferred respectively (table 1). The nutritional recovery rate was 2.27 (95 % CI: 1.55– 3.43) per 100 person day observations among entire subjects in the cohort. The median nutritional recovery time was estimated to be 16 days (IQR: 95% CI; 14.233-17.767) (figure 1).

Regarding to the complementary food supplements, there was significant (p < 0.05) increase in protein content with increasing level of Moringaolifera leaf powder from 8.2% in 100% maize (control) to 17.2% in (55:30:15) R55, with maize, soybean and Moringaolifera leaf power blend (table 2).

The mineral content of the samples increased significantly (p < 0.05) (table 3). Zinc content was increased from 0.84 in the control (maize) to 1.29mg in R65, 1.74mg in R60 and 1.25mg/100g in R55. Calcium (Ca) content was increased from 2.65mg/100g in the control (maize) to 11.33mg in R65, 10.52mg in R60 and 15.37mg/100g in R55. Iron (Fe) content was increased from 27.97mg in control to 49.17 in R60, 38.93mg in R55; however reduced to 27.47mg/100g in R55.

Beta-carotene content increased significantly (p < 0.05) from 0.035 to 0.4 mg/g with an increase in Moringa leaf powder (table 3). R55 had the highest β-carotene 0.4 mg/g while R60 had 0.21mg/100g and 0.14mg/g in R65.

In this retrospective cohort study, the median nutritional recovery times was within the acceptable maximum international standards set at < 28 days8. It is consistent with other institution-based studies in Ethiopia, such as Mekelle City which reported 17 days 9. However, it was higher than the study done in Zambia that reported 13 days10.This might be related to differences in treatment and caring practices, health care settings and other socioeconomic factors among the study areas. Studies indicated that it is only by complying with the standard protocol for management of SAM, better program outcomes could be assured11.

However, the median nutritional recovery time was lowest compared to the study reports from Kamba District, South West Ethiopia that indicated recovery time of 50 days 12and Karat and Fasha stabilization Centers, Southern Ethiopia that reported 26 days 13.

However, though unpublished a study in Jimma, southwest Ethiopia indicated that current anthropometric criteria lead to discharge of children with incomplete recovery of some nutrition parameters including immunity, free fat mass and cellular electrical properties. Accordingly, the study warranted that those children discharged early as recovered from SAM are more vulnerable than their community peers during the first months post-discharge.

Regarding to the complementary food supplements, there was significant (p < 0.05) increase in protein content with increasing level of Moringaolifera leaf powder supplementation (table 2). This could be due to substitution effect caused by Moringa leaf powder and soybean. Abraham I. Sengev et al also reported the same effect in wheat flour and Moringa powder blended bread 14. This finding was found to be higher in protein content than that was reported by Onojo US., et al who prepared gruel from sorghum, soybean and plantain 15. It was also three fold than that was reported by M.C. Ojinnaka et al. who developed a complementary food from soybean and ginger 16. However, it was lower in protein content than that was reported by Erikhun of complementary food prepared from maize, soybean and Moringa leaf powder 17.

The ash and fat contents also increased significantly (table 2). Abraham I. Sengev et al. also reported the same effect in wheat flour and Moringa powder blended bread14. Similarly, the mineral content of the samples increased significantly (table 3). Erkihun had also reported an increase in mineral content as ratio of Moringaolifera powder increased17Beta-carotene content increased significantly (table 3). Nwosu Odinakachukwu I.C., et al., also reported that there was an increase in beta-carotene in the porridge prepared from maize and soybean as a control and a blend of maize, soybean and Moringaolifera powder as test diet 17. While Onojo US., et al., had reported higher than of this finding15.

In this study, the median nutritional recovery times was within the acceptable maximum international standards and indicated that children were recovered fast. Moringa leaf powder as a fortificant gave promising result in improving the protein and micronutrient content of the complementary food supplements.

Attention should be given as current anthropometric criteria might lead to early discharge of children with incomplete recovery of some nutrition parameters. Developing complementary food supplements from locally available stables fortified with nutrient rich non-conventional foods (Moringa leaf powder) is important as a strategy for effective treatment of SAM and preventing possible relapsing.