Sultan Husen - Dodola Hospital, West Arsi Zone, Dodola, Ethiopia
Jeylan Esmael - Department of Public Health, Goba Referral Hospital, Madda Walabu University, Goba-Ethiopia
Adem Abdulkadir Abdi - Department of Public Health, Goba Referral Hospital, Madda Walabu University, Goba-Ethiopia
Mustafa Ansha - Department of Public Health, Goba Referral Hospital, Madda Walabu University, Goba-Ethiopia

Background: Recovery rate of children with severe acute malnutrition can be affected by several factors. The study accentuated on identifying recovery rate and its predictors in treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition using Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding Program in Shalla Health District, South West Ethiopia.Methods: Institutional based retrospective cohort study design was employed. A record of ۱۰۰۴ was collected and analyzed. Kaplan Meier procedure, Log rank test and multiple variable cox proportional hazard regression were used in order to test the significant relationship between recovery rate and independent factors.Results: The finding of the study revealed that ۹۰.۹% of children recovered with a median recovery time of ۴۵ days with an interquartile range (IQR) from ۵ to ۷ weeks. The recovery rate among those who received amoxicillin was ۵.۸۶ (Adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR)=۵.۸۶, ۹۵% CI: ۴.۵۵-۷.۵۵) times higher than those who did not receive. Additionally, the finding of the study showed that the recovery rate of children who had diarrhea was ۴۹% (AHR=۰.۵۱, ۹۵% CI: ۰.۴۴-۰.۵۹), vomiting was ۶۱% (AHR=۰.۳۹, ۹۵% CI: ۰.۳۳-۰.۴۶), and among those who were admittedwith edema was ۳۰% (AHR=۰.۷۰, ۹۵% CI: ۰.۵۸-۰.۸۴) that were less likely than those admitted without edema.Conclusion: It was identified that medication with amoxicillin was taken as a predicator that positively affected the time to recover. But; diarrhea, vomiting and edema were recognized as factors affecting recovery time negatively. Thus, early identification and management of diarrhea, vomiting and edema as well as regular management of cases with antibiotics is recommended to improve recovery rate.

Recovery rate, Outpatient treatment feeding program, Malnutrition, Ethiopia