FORMULATION AND DIETARY INTERVENTION FOR SEVERE ACUTE MALNOURISHED CHILDREN ATTENDING PRIMARY HEALTH CARE LAFIA, NIGERIA

The process of gradual replacement of breastfeeding' with other foods due to breast milk not supplying all the nutrients required by baby is a great concern. Malnutrition is a major health problem in internally displaced persons camps and communities in Nasarawa State and other war • affected area in the world. Malnutrition contributes to infant mortality, poor physical and intellectual development, as well as lowered resistance to diseases. Thus, this study, was conducted to formulate a cereal, legume and vegetable based weaning food, a mixture of; Millet, groundnut, soya bean, crayfish, and carrot for children attending Tudun kori Primary Health Care Lafia, Nigeria. One hundred selected children based on mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were randomly selected for the study. The socio-demographic, nutritional and clinical information of the children and caregivers were obtained using structured questionnaires. Anthropometric assessment was done on each participant and blood samples were analyzed for biochemical parameters. The I formulated diet MSGCC showed Energy density 4.08 ± 1.05 kcal/g, crude protein 18.27 ± 0.36%, crude fat 5.02 ± 0:50% and were comparable to International Food Standard values as amended in I 2017. Moisture value was 2.19 ± 0.19% which suggests longer shelf life for the food. Out of the 100 children selected for the study; 56 had SAM cases. Children aged 6-12 months had the highest prevalence of 45.0% and male participants were higher than females. Most of the participants had an average respiration rate of <50->50 in 6-12 months and body temperature of 36-39°C. The participants had an average weight of 14.0 ± 14.8 kg, height of 75.0 ± 35.4 cm and MUAC of 8.0 ± 4.9 cm. There was a statistically significant association between the participants and anthropometric measures (P < 0.05). MUAC was not statistically associated with gender and age of SAM children attending PMC, Lafia (P > 0.05). Similarly, weight-for-height measure was not statistically significant with the gender of the participants (P > 0.05). The biochemical analysis showed an average glucose level of 3.65 ± 0.78 and 5.0 ± 0.99 mmol/L, average total protein of 58.50 ± 9.19 and 68.0 ± 7.07 g/L, average albumin of 26.50 ± 7.77 and 33.00 ± 4.24 g/L, average vitamin A of 19.00 ± 5.66 and 40.00 ± 11.31 pg/dL and average iron level was 10.60 ± 0.71 and 12.15 ±0.92 g/dL before and after administration of formulated dietary intervention respectively. We concluded that the formulated diet contained improve protein quality and, might have affected mineral bioavailability. Thus, could serve as alternative diet to the existing imported and expensive weaning foods to improve the nutritional status of infants and children to prevent protein-energy - malnutrition.