Evaluating the Performance of Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition Programs in Somalia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Andre M. N. Renzaho (), Chandrakala Jaiswal, Annastancia Chineka, Musdafa Omar Aden, Abdikadir Dahir, Hanad Abdi Kari, Simon Karanja, Ajwang Fatuma, Bashir Abdi Shire, Kh Shafiur Rahaman, Mohamed Isse Mohamed, Farhan Mohamed, Nejmudin Kedir Bilal, Gabriel Ocom, Mohamed Ag Ayoya, Biram Ndiaye and Eric Alain Ategbo
Additional contact information
Andre M. N. Renzaho: School of Medicine, Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2571, Australia
Chandrakala Jaiswal: UNICEF Somalia, API Compound, Nairobi P.O. Box 44145, Kenya
Annastancia Chineka: UNICEF Somalia, API Compound, Nairobi P.O. Box 44145, Kenya
Musdafa Omar Aden: UNICEF Somalia, API Compound, Nairobi P.O. Box 44145, Kenya
Abdikadir Dahir: UNICEF Somalia, API Compound, Nairobi P.O. Box 44145, Kenya
Hanad Abdi Kari: UNICEF Somalia, API Compound, Nairobi P.O. Box 44145, Kenya
Simon Karanja: UNICEF Somalia, API Compound, Nairobi P.O. Box 44145, Kenya
Ajwang Fatuma: UNICEF Somalia, API Compound, Nairobi P.O. Box 44145, Kenya
Bashir Abdi Shire: UNICEF Somalia, API Compound, Nairobi P.O. Box 44145, Kenya
Kh Shafiur Rahaman: School of Medicine, Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2571, Australia
Mohamed Isse Mohamed: UNICEF Somalia, API Compound, Nairobi P.O. Box 44145, Kenya
Farhan Mohamed: Somalian Ministry of Health, Corso Somalia, Mogadishu MC 13-1302, Somalia
Nejmudin Kedir Bilal: UNICEF Somalia, API Compound, Nairobi P.O. Box 44145, Kenya
Gabriel Ocom: UNICEF Somalia, API Compound, Nairobi P.O. Box 44145, Kenya
Mohamed Ag Ayoya: UNICEF Somalia, API Compound, Nairobi P.O. Box 44145, Kenya
Biram Ndiaye: World Bank, 1818 H Street, Washington, DC 20433, USA
Eric Alain Ategbo: UNICEF Somalia, API Compound, Nairobi P.O. Box 44145, Kenya

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: Background : Globally, acute malnutrition remains a significant public health challenge. Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is the most lethal type of acute malnutrition. This study aimed to produce pooled estimates of the effectiveness of integrated management of acute malnutrition (IMAM) programs in addressing SAM in Somalia. Methods : Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, CINAHL, ProQuest, Google Scholar, eLENA, and the UNICEF website were searched with no language or date restrictions. Random effect models were used to estimate the pooled estimates of outpatient therapeutic program (OTP) and stabilization centres (SC) performance outcomes (I 2 > 50%). Results : Of 186 identified studies, three included data from IMAM programs in Somalia but were excluded, as they had incomplete data. Included were seven datasets identified through the authors’ list, which screened 36.34 million and admitted 2.31 million (6.35%) children aged 6–59 months. The pooled estimates of IMAM performance outcomes [%, (95% confidence interval)] for OTPs and SCs were, respectively, 2.45 (2.18, 2.56) and 4.11 (95%CI: 3.33, 4.90) for relapse, 95.39 (94.87, 95.90) and 80.81 (79.25, 82.37) for recovery, 0.18 (0.15, 0.21) and 1.73 (1.51, 1.95) for death, 2.57 (2.34, 2.79) and 2.75 (2.37, 3.12) for defaulter, 1.86 (1.55, 2.17), and 0.84 (0.66, 1.02) for non-recovery. Conclusions : OTP and SC performance outcomes in Somalia exceeded the Sphere Minimum Standards and compare favourably with results from the region. The adaptation of IMAM programs to meet multiple challenges in Somalia, supported by well-designed, coordinated, standardized, integrated, and harmonized implementation plans, is a strength.

Keywords: integrated management of acute malnutrition wasting; SAM; OTP; community-based management of acute malnutrition; IMAM; scaling-up; Somalia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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