Children Living with Disabilities are Neglected in Severe Malnutrition Protocols: A Guideline Review

Engl et al (2022)

Despite being at significant risk for malnutrition, children with disabilities have long been marginalized in research and treatment for the condition. Disability is included in the 2013 WHO recommendations for severe acute malnutrition (SAM), but no particular information regarding assistance or treatment is provided. The coverage of children with disabilities in national and international SAM guidelines is evaluated in this study. According to the study's results, most SAM standards fail to adequately account for children with impairments. Recommendations are few even in places where they are acknowledged. To identify and manage children with impairments in malnutrition programs, better evidence is critically required. This vulnerable population could receive further help if the WHO's malnutrition recommendations are updated in 2022.