Evaluation of the outpatient therapeutic programme for management of severe acute malnutrition in three districts of eastern province , Zambia

Abstract

The Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) is an integrated public health innovation for treating severe acute malnutrition without medical complications in children 6 to 59 months of age as outpatients within their communities using Ready to Use Therapeutic Food with the aim of reducing case fatality rates. The OTP approach is implemented in the three districts in Eastern Province of Zambia namely; Chipata, Katete and Petauke. Since inception of the OTP in the province, an evaluation of the OTP has not been conducted. The study is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the implementation of the OTP for management of severe acute malnutrition in the three districts of Eastern Province of Zambia.