5. Conclusions
malnutrition
WEST, MALNUTRITION
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in West Africa to demonstrate the effectiveness and coverage of SAM treatment using a simplified protocol in a complex humanitarian context. The use of a MUAC of <115 mm as the sole diagnostic criterion and a RUTF dosage fixed at two sachets a day for children over 5 kg, as well as a dosage of one sachet a day for those under 5 kg, resulted in a cured proportion of 96.6%, a defaulted proportion of 0.2%, and a decrease in the amount of RUTF, with 70 sachets per cured child. These results show that there are fewer errors in the simplified protocol’s application than in the application of the standard CMAM protocol.In the Niger context, the evidence from this study complements the results obtained in a previous study that was conducted with another simplified approach, CHW-led treatment. Both results can be considered by policy-makers for the application of a simplified approach under exceptional circumstances, as in the case of Diffa. In this context, where there is a situation of insecurity and a lack of access to health services, together with logistical problems leading to usual stockouts of the two nutritional inputs, the continuity of care of children suffering from acute malnutrition cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, the use of simplified approaches can contribute to the treatment of more children more effectively.