Effect of Supplementation on Weight Gain of Growth Faltered under 2 Children in A Rural Area of Bangladesh

Effect of food supplementation for different duration on weight gain of growth faltered under 2 children was assessed in this study to identify an optimum duration for supplementation. This was a longitudinal prospective study conducted among 510 children aged 6-23 months enrolled for food supplementation from 1st November 98 to 30th May 99 under community based food supplementation program of Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Project (BINP). The children were assigned in 3 groups of supplementation for 30, 60 and 90 days. All children were assessed for Graduation (weight gain 500 gm) at assigned duration of supplementation and followed for 90 days with monthly anthropometric monitoring. The proportion of graduation was 21.7 percent (CI 15.8- 28.7), 48.8 percent (CI 41.1-56.6) and 80.5 percent (CI 73.4-86.4) at 30, 60 and 90 days of supplementation respectively. There was no significant difference of mean weight gain between 60 and 90 days of supplementation. There was limited impact on weight gain once graduation was achieved. As continuing supplementation will require more cost and graduated children could maintain weight gain with family diet it is recommended to assess for graduation after 60 days instead of existing practice of 90 days supplementation in the national nutrition program and consider 60 days supplementation as an optimum duration for growth faltered under 2 children.