Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 9

Answer

The aim of intervention for moderate acute malnutrition is to rehabilitate children who are moderately malnourished, to prevent further deterioration of vulnerable groups of people (such as pregnant women and lactating mothers) who are moderately malnourished and to support adequate intake of nutritious food for such vulnerable groups. As a Health Extension Practitioner, you need to be aware that children under five, pregnant women and lactating mothers are particularly at risk because they have increased nutritional needs. You will work with families, taking into consideration the kinds of food they have available, to advise them on the most nutritious diet possible. As far as possible, you should explore local solutions to support children and vulnerable women, as this is likely to lead to a more sustainable approach to rehabilitation.

Answer

• a.Jemila’s MUAC is 11.5cm which comes within the range indicating that she has moderate acute malnutrition (11-11.99cm). As there is no oedema, Jemila does not have severe acute malnutrition, but you would need to monitor her progress carefully.
• b.You could use the opportunity of a CHD to monitor Jemila’s progress and to provide advice to Jemila’s mother or caregiver. Activities undertaken as part of CHDs include vitamin A supplementation and promotion of infant and young child feeding.

Answer

If there is no supplementary feeding programme in your community, you can help manage a child’s moderate acute malnutrition in a number of ways. For example you can talk with the primary caregiver why they think the child has become malnourished. You will be able to provide nutritional advice to the whole family to ensure the malnourished child is given more energy-rich food, as well as more fat and protein in their diet.

Answer

It is important to plan carefully for a CHD and to ensure your community is informed of the date in advance. You need to consider where you will hold the CHD, and that the place you select is in a suitable location with enough space for the services you are going to provide (for example, a school, a health post or a veranda with good shade). An important part of the planning includes organising the services in a logical order, from a service where a child is least likely to cry to one that may create some discomfort to a child. This will also help you to control the direction of the flow of clients through the services. If you start the service at the right time, this will help to minimise the time mother and caregivers will have to wait, and promote effective crowd control.