Follow-up Kwashiorkor Patients Discharged from the Nutritional Rehabilitation Ward of the Gelukspan Community Hospital

This study assessed the nutritional status of a group of children admitted with kwashiorkor to the Nutrition Rehabilitation Ward of the Gelukspan Community Hospital in 1915. Weight, height and arm circumference were measured during July I987 to assess their nutritional status and more specifically the effectiveness of nutrition rehabilitation of children with kwashiorkor in the Nutrition Rehabilitation Ward. The sample consisted of 80 children of which 71 (89%) were traced and 64 (80%) were measured. The mortality rate of the sample was less that 1%. Forty four percent of the children had a low weight for age, 75% were stunted 2% were acutely malnourished and none were severely malnourished. The applications for further research and programme development are discussed.