Peer-reviewed article
Acceptability and Adherence to Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) Treatment in Cases of Moderate and Severe Acute Malnutrition in Children from Rural and Indigenous Communities in Mexico.
Edgar Arturo Chávez Muñoz, Ana Lilia Lozada Tequeanes, Selene Pacheco Miranda, Leonel Dorantes Pacheco, Mariana Castañeda Barrios et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study evaluated whether ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) are acceptable and effective for treating moderate and severe acute malnutrition in children aged 6-59 months in rural and indigenous communities in Mexico. The researchers worked with 48 children across three Mexican states and measured how much of the prescribed nutrition product children consumed and what caregivers thought about it. Most children ate the food readily, found it tasty, and their families gave them the recommended amount, leading to improvements in the children's nutritional status.
Key points
- 85% of children achieved consumption-based acceptability of RUTFs
- 77% of participants rated the RUTF as pleasant or very pleasant on a 5-point hedonic scale
- Overall treatment adherence was adequate (≥70%) in 79.2% of cases
- Caregivers reported observing weight gain and increased appetite as benefits
- Nutritional status of children with moderate or severe acute malnutrition improved
Limitations
The study had a relatively small sample size (48 completers) and was conducted over a limited time period (6 months), which may not capture longer-term adherence patterns. The document does not provide details on what factors specifically drove non-adherence in the cases where it was inadequate, limiting understanding of barriers in this population.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Infant acute malnutrition increases the risk of morbidity and mortality but also has adverse effects on growth, cognitive development, and quality of life. Ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) represent the standard treatment in moderate (MAM) or severe acute malnutrition (SAM) cases, but acceptability and adherence in culturally diverse settings remain poorly understood. To evaluate the acceptability and adherence to RUTF treatment among children with MAM or SAM in rural and indigenous communities of three Mexican states. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study in Chihuahua, Guerrero, and Chiapas between February and August 2024. A total of 66 children aged 6-59 months with confirmed MAM or SAM diagnoses were enrolled, with 48 completing the study. Acceptability was assessed by weighing leftovers of the consumption RUTF sachet and using 5-point hedonic scales evaluating taste, texture, appearance, and smell. Adherence was measured by comparing consumed versus prescribed RUTF sachets. Semi-structured interviews with primary caregivers explored perceptions, barriers, and facilitators of RUTF use. Results: Consumption-based acceptability was achieved by 85% of participants. On the 5-point hedonic scale, 77% of participants rated RUTF as pleasant or very pleasant. Overall treatment adherence was adequate (≥70%) in 79.2% of cases. Qualitative information revealed primary caregivers' perceptions about weight gain and increased appetite as benefits. Conclusions: Since acceptability and adherence were adequate and a high score was obtained on the hedonic scale, which led to an improvement in the nutritional status of MAM or SAM cases, the feasibility and acceptability of RUTFs in highly vulnerable community contexts in Mexico was reaffirmed.