The Department of Health (DOH) Center for Health and Development in Zamboanga Peninsula (ZamPen), headed by Nutritionist-Dietitian IV Ms. Chrystal Jean I. Dela Cerna, and Nutritionist-Dietitian II Ms. Cyrah Mae Doroja in partnership with the Provincial Nutrition Office of Zamboanga del Sur (ZamboSur), headed by the Provincial Nutrition Action Officer, Ms. Grace Sumogue, successfully conducted the 2-day Orientation on the Family MUAC Approach for Health Personnel in Zamboanga del Sur on September 19 and 20, 2022. The activity was attended by the Nutritionist-Dietitians (NDDP HRH Program), Nutrition Action Officers, BNS Federated Presidents, and representatives from twenty-seven (27) LGUs in the Province. The aforementioned activity aims to 1. Describe Acute Malnutrition and the four guiding principles of PIMAM; 2. Explain what Family MUAC Approach is and related concepts; 3. Discuss how Family MUAC can be used as a method to help improve the early identification of Acute Malnutrition and PIMAM coverage; and 4. Apply the knowledge and skills obtained in planning and implementing Family MUAC at the community level.
A measure of muscle wasting, the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) shows the strongest connection with the risk of mortality of any anthropometric indicator. It is also an easy-to-understand and open metric, making it the most suitable for use in decentralized services. In order to identify acute malnutrition in their children at home, mothers, fathers, and other caregivers are taught the family mid-upper arm circumference (Family MUAC) screening method. In 2011, the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) started researching the viability of teaching mothers in Niger how to screen for malnutrition using the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC).
The Family MUAC Approach involves mothers, fathers, and caregivers in nutrition screening activities. It recognizes the fact that they are best placed to identify early signs of malnutrition and reinforces their role in protecting and promoting their child’s health and nutritional status. It will also enhance efforts for early detection of acute malnutrition cases at the community level and thus provide appropriate management and care when needed the most. What significance does the Family MUAC approach have? Regularly monitoring your child's MUAC and looking for edema will allow you to spot early indications of malnutrition and get them to help right away. Early detection can minimize the chance of death for a child and reduce the probability of a child needing to be hospitalized for a prolonged period.
Is the Family MUAC approach successful? Absolutely yes! In fact, mothers from Niger were able to place their kids into one of the three color classes on a MUAC tape after receiving some brief training. The said training has demonstrated that mothers and other caregivers are just as competent in taking the MUAC and diagnosing edema as medical professionals. The training also showed that mothers are better at spotting severe acute malnutrition (SAM), and their infants require less hospitalization as a result. Working with moms reduces screening expenses significantly compared to an approach based on Community Health Workers.
The Alliance for International Medical Action stated that “Putting mothers at the center of malnutrition screening strategies acknowledges that they are in the best position to detect the earliest signs of malnutrition and leverages the fact that mothers want to participate as fully as possible in promoting the health of their children.” As one of the leading organizations in the field of nutrition, NNC 9 will continue to take part, offer LGUs capacity-building activities, make sure that commitments are met, and offer technical support as necessary.
ZDS DMO II Marie-Claire Gaas, RND
References:
- Training Module on the National Guidelines on the Management of Acute Malnutrition for Children under Five Years Module 1
- Brief Background of Family MUAC Approach
