Simplified Treatment Protocol for Acute Malnutrition in Venezuela

The general objective of the study is to document the safety and effectiveness of Venezuelan simplified treatment protocol for Acute malnutrition of reduced frequency of follow-up visits, single product use and optimized daily RUTF dose. This will be a prospective longitudinal study assessing the Venezuelan Simplified Combined Protocol among children with uncomplicated acute malnutrition according to the definition case study recently adopted by the Implementation Guidance: Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment of Wasting in Children 0-59 Months through National Health Systems in the Context of Coronavirus Disease, United Nations Children's Fund and World/Health Organization, for a single arm cohort included in treatment. Children will be prospectively followed for a total of 6 months including the treatment phase and the immediate post-discharge weeks until 6 months. An economic evaluation component will be incorporated. The economic valuation will be carried out based on quantitative data. Cost data will be collected from accounting records where available and through a series of interviews with key informants including health workers, civil society organizations, relevant staff from non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies. Total costs will be aggregated and presented as cost per child treated and cost per child per child recovered. The study will be implemented in 19 Community Health Centers purposively chosen based on their acute malnutrition prevalence and operational constraints. All of them will be proportionally distributed in three central states of Venezuela (Distrito Capital, Miranda, and La Guaira). The protocol will be implemented by health professionals from each institution, duly previously trained in applying the study protocol.