Acute malnutrition remains a major public health problem in the Central African Republic, particularly in the NanaGribizi region. To improve early management and prevent nutritional deterioration, an integrated communitybased approach has been implemented. The study aims to assess the impact of this approach on the prevention and management of malnutrition.
The study, conducted in Ouandago in the commune of NanaOuta, is qualitative in nature. It involved the local community and health personnel. The sample included various groups: caregivers of malnourished children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, heads of households, community leaders, model mothers, community volunteers, and health workers. Data were collected from the malnutrition treatment register and through interviews, then entered Excel 2016 and analyzed using Epi Info version 7.
The age of malnourished children ranged from 6 to 55 months, with boys being predominant in both periods (54% and 58.3%). Comparing the nutritional situation before the integration of the community approach in 2021 with that of 2023—two years after implementation, the number of malnutrition cases significantly decreased, dropping from 871 in 2021 to 503 in 2023. The prevalence of severe acute malnutrition fell from 3.1% to 1.7%, moderate acute malnutrition from 12.57% to 5.9%, and global acute malnutrition from 15.6% to 7.5%.
The communitybased approach clearly improves nutritional care. Thanks to Model Mothers and community volunteers, good nutritional practices have improved, and the prevalence of acute malnutrition has decreased.