Community Case Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition in Southern Bangladesh

Bangladesh has the fourth-highest number of children – around 600,000 at any one time – suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in the world. Currently, ongoing national programs (such as the National Nutrition Program) do not include an effective mechanism of identifying or treating young children who suffer from SAM. This prospective cohort study examined the effectiveness and feasibility of adding the diagnosis and treatment of SAM to the community case management package delivered by community health workers outside health facilities in Barisal, Bangladesh. This is a partnership study between the Feinstein International Center, Tufts University, Save the Children USA, Institute of Public Health Nutrition Bangladesh, Sher-E-Bangla Medical College & Hospital, Barisal Bangladesh, and the Director General of Health Services Bangladesh.