Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background and Aims
Recent reports indicate a rising prevalence of acute malnutrition among children in Afghanistan. This retrospective hospital‐based study was conducted at Guzara District Hospital in Herat and aimed to investigate the severity, treatment outcomes, and monthly trends of acute malnutrition among children aged 0–59 months and potential determinants from May 2020 to March 2022.
Methods
For this study, the data were collected from the hospital malnutrition treatment register, a standardized logbook in which demographic, anthropometric, treatment, and outcome data of admitted children were recorded. The study included 253 children, with malnutrition severity assessed using weight‐for‐height
Z
‐scores (WHZ), mid‐upper arm circumference (MUAC), and bilateral oedema. Information on age, sex, and location was also collected. In addition, treatment outcomes were obtained from the hospital registration book. WHZ, MUAC, age, sex, location, and oedema refer to characteristics recorded at baseline (admission). Group differences were analysed using Chi‐squared and Kruskal–Wallis tests, with Monte Carlo simulations for small counts.
Results
Results showed a high burden of severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Based on WHZ, 77.9% of children were classified as SAM, and 14.68% presented with bilateral oedema. Among children older than 6 months, and among children with available MUAC data (
n
= 109), 74.3% had a MUAC
Conclusion
This study highlights the significant burden of SAM at Guzara Hospital, especially among children under 12 months, a seasonal rise in cases, and the association between treatment outcomes and malnutrition indicators.