Strengthening Psychosocial Stimulation in the Management of Children With Severe Acute Malnutrition: Experience From a Nutrition Rehabilitation Center.

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) not only increases risk of mortality, but it also increases the risk of impaired motor, cognitive, and psychosocial development. Across the globe, 43% of all children younger than five years of age are at risk of not achieving their developmental potential. The World Health Organization management guidelines for SAM has included the integration of early childhood development (ECD) directed sensory and psychosocial stimulation and structured play therapy in the medico-nutritional care process. Despite this, management still largely focuses on nutrition rehabilitation, while these interventions take a backseat. Most countries are moving towards home-based management of uncomplicated SAM children. Hence, it is equally important to have a strong ECD component in the community-based management programs. Strengthening the support of sensory and psychosocial stimulation and structured play support in both facility and community-based care of SAM children will not only help them to survive, but also thrive and transform. With this background, we briefly describe the experiences of a pilot study aiming at strengthening of these interventions support in 10 nutritional rehabilitation centers across India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]