Performance Appraisal of Nutritional Rehabilitation Centers in Central India: A Retrospective Facility-Based Descriptive Study.

Background: Nutritional rehabilitation centers (NRCs) were established with the objective of providing institutional care to malnourished children and building the capacity of the primary caregivers of these children.

Objectives And Methodology: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of nutritional interventional measures undertaken at NRCs in improving the nutritional status of admitted children; a retrospective facility-based descriptive study was conducted using the monthly performance reports (March 2015 to November 2019) of all NRCs in Dhamtari district, Chhattisgarh.

Results: Of the 3171 children registered in the NRCs, the majority were 1-3 years of age (59.22%), female children (55.50%), and from Other Backward Class caste category (56.79%). The district records a cure rate of 56.12%, death rate of 0.03%, and defaulter rate of 4.71%, with an average length of stay being 16.5 days. NRCs of Dhamtari district had less than acceptable level of recovery/cure rate though death rate and defaulter rate were within acceptable standards.

Conclusion: Lower cure rate along with lower defaulter rate and death rate with more than recommended length of stay reflects the below-average performance of the NRCs in the district.