Use of MUAC as Basic Criterion for Admission, Follow-up and Exit From the Ambulatory Nutrition Program

Operational Experience for the Use of the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) as the Basic Criterion for Admission, Follow-up and Exit of the Ambulatory Nutrition Program in Two CRENAS, Madaoua District, Niger

The aim of this study is to provide comprehensive documentation of the relevant results and operational implications of this new model using Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) as the single anthropometric criterion for admission, monitoring and exit of non- complicated in Niger.

This is a first operational experiment using Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) as the single anthropometric criterion for the admission, monitoring and exit of the management of uncomplicated SAM (Severe Acute Malnutrition) in Niger, specific data as well as data from routine program will be collected to allow comprehensive documentation of all relevant results and operational implications of this new model. The experiment based on the use of the single anthropometric threshold for admission of a Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC)<120 mm, which includes both children currently classified as having SAM (currently with PB <115 mm) and acute malnutrition moderate (MAM, currently with a Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC)<125 mm), as well as a follow-up of children with a Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC)≥ 120 mm, will identify how children respond to treatment and benefit of the spectrum of acute malnutrition.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All children admitted for non-complicated SAM (Severe Acute Malnutrition) treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children between the ages of 6 and 59 months who were recently excluded from treatment by admission criteria based on MUAC (Sabon Guida site) but were previously eligible for treatment (ie MUAC ≥ 120 and Z score <-3).