Data and Codebook for: Post-recovery relapse of children treated with a simplified, combined nutrition treatment protocol in Mali : a prospective cohort study

Data and Codebook to recreate analyses for the study. 

Abstract: The present study aimed to determine the 6-month incidence of relapse and associated factors among children who recovered following mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) based simplified combined treatment using the ComPAS protocol. A prospective cohort of 420 children who had reached a MUAC ≥125 mm for two consecutive measures was monitored between December 2020 and October 2021. Children were seen at home by study enumerators fortnightly for 6 months. Relapse was defined as developing a MUAC <125 mm or edema. The overall 6-month cumulative incidence of relapse [95%CI] was 26.1% [21.7;30.8] and the incidence rate per 100 child-months was 4.8 [4.0;5.9]. Relapse was similar among children initially admitted to treatment with a MUAC<115mm or oedema and among those with a MUAC≥115mm but <125mm. Relapse was predicted by lower anthropometry both at admission to and discharge from treatment, and higher number of illness episodes per month of follow-up. Having a vaccination card, using an improved water source, having agriculture as the main source of income and increases in caregivers workload during follow-up all protected from relapse. Children discharged recovered following treatment remain at risk of relapsing into acute malnutrition. To achieve reduction in relapse, recovery criteria may need to be revised.