Implementing the family-MUAC approach for infants under 6 months in the context of COVID-19 in Ethiopia
By Ritu Rana, Hatty Barthorp, Mary T Murphy and Alemayhu Beri
Ritu Rana is a GOAL Nutrition Research Advisor (Management of At-risk Mothers and Infants under six months (MAMI)). She has a PhD in nutrition (India), a second Master’s Degree in Nutrition for Global Health (UK) and eight years’ experience working in nutrition research.
Hatty Barthorp is a GOAL Global Nutrition Advisor. She has worked on emergency, transitional and development programmes for 18 years.
Mary T Murphy is a Refugee Programme Manager at GOAL Ethiopia. She has over 20 years’ experience in nutrition and humanitarian programming.
Alemayhu Beri is a supervisor for MAMI and Senior Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Programme Officer at GOAL Ethiopia. He has around nine years’ experience in humanitarian programming.
The authors would like to thank the DropBox Foundation and Nächstenliebe Weltweit for funding this work in collaboration with the Bureau of Population, Refugee and Migration (BPRM), the United States Department of State, the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO), the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the Agency for Refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA) and UNICEF.
Location: Ethiopia
What we know: There is growing evidence of the effectiveness of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) in identifying infants under six months at increased risk of mortality but no globally agreed thresholds yet exist for this age group which limits community-based screening.
What this article adds: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, GOAL adapted its community-based Management of At-risk Mothers and Infants under 6 months (MAMI) programme in Gambella, Ethiopia by introducing the Family MUAC approach to enable home-based screening of infants under six months and a new type of reversible MUAC tape, specially adapted for the screening of infants under six months of age. Following implementation, the average number of monthly referrals increased (from 11.6 infants pre-training to 19.1 post-training). Pre-training, monthly outreach contributed to most referrals (average 77.0%) and there were no self-referrals. Post-training, the average monthly outreach referrals reduced to 45.3% and self-referrals increased to 41.4%. Measurement accuracy analysis showed that most caregivers trained by Community Outreach Agents (COAs) correctly identified the MUAC of their infants. Based on these results, GOAL will explore the feasibility of moving to using Family MUAC alone for the screening of infants under six months of age.
Background
The measurement of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) by caregivers is a promising approach to improve the frequency and coverage of screening and case identification of child wasting (Bliss et al. 2018; Blackwell et al. 2015). Although measurement of MUAC by community health workers (CHWs) and caregivers has proven to be effective, evidence suggests that it does require adequate operational support, training and supervision (Bliss et al. 2018). While MUAC has been tested and is increasingly used for children aged 6 to 59 months, there are currently no globally established MUAC thresholds to identify at-risk infants under six months of age. There is growing evidence of its effectiveness in identifying infants at increased risk of mortality in several African countries (Mwangome et al. 2012; Lelijveld et al. 2017). However, the accuracy and reliability of MUAC measurements by caregivers in this age group is unknown.
Since 2014, GOAL has been implementing the Management of At-risk Mothers and Infants under six months (MAMI)1 programme in four refugee camp sites in Gambella, Ethiopia – Kule-1, Kule-2, Tierkidi-1 and Tierkidi-2 (Burrell et al, 2020). Since 2016, CHWs – called Community Outreach Agents (COAs) locally – have screened infants under six months of age using standard MUAC tapes designed to measure children aged 6 to 59 months. In response to the COVID-19 emergency, GOAL introduced multiple adaptations to its MAMI programme, guided by the 2020 World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF implementation guidance for the early detection of malnutrition in infants aged 0 to 6 months in the context of COVID-19 (UNICEF, 2020). This guidance recommends the use of MUAC as a ‘reduced physical contact’ approach for identifying nutritional risk in infants under six months of age using the following thresholds: <11.0 cm for 0-6 weeks and <11.5 cm for 7 weeks to 6 months (UNICEF, 2020).
From March 2020, the Family2 MUAC approach was introduced to enable home-based screening of infants in the community, in addition to existing screening by COAs. A specially designed MUAC tape3 called MAMI-MUAC (Figures 1a and 1b), developed by GOAL in 2019, was introduced for use by both caregivers and COAs. Tapes are reversible (one side is used for infants under six months and the other is used for older children and pregnant and lactating women) with two versions available – one enumerated for use by COAs (Figure 1a) and the other non-enumerated for use by caregivers (Figure 1b). This article shares the experiences of implementing the Family MUAC approach for infants under six months in the Gambella refugee camps, Ethiopia.
Figure 1a: Enumerated, colour-coded reversible MAMI-MUAC tape, for community health workers
Top: infants <6 months
Bottom: children 6-59 months and pregnant and lactating women
Figure 1b: Non-enumerated reversible MAMI-MUAC tape for caregivers
Top: infants <6 months
Bottom: children 6-59 months and pregnant and lactating women
Implementation of the Family MUAC approach for infants under six months
Figure 2: Implementation steps
Training of COAs and caregivers (steps one and two)
The training was conducted in two phases across all four camp locations – COAs in March 2020 and caregivers of infants under six months in May 2020. The GOAL MAMI supervisor trained a maximum of 30 COAs per session, after which they began using the tapes in the community. COAs then trained caregivers in a series of short, house-to-house training sessions respecting infection prevention control (IPC) measures. The number of COAs and caregivers trained are presented in Table 1. Each caregiver was given their own MUAC tapes and all tapes used by COAs and caregivers were wiped with soap and water solution before each measurement.
Table 1: Number of COAs and caregivers trained, overall and by camp
First follow-up assessment (step three)
The first follow-up assessment was carried out in July 2020, two months post-training of caregivers. During the assessment, caregivers’ screening performance was assessed by comparing it with that of the COAs. A sample population was selected for assessment while respecting IPC measures (Table 2). Follow up with all the COAs and around a third of the caregivers was planned but several COAs were absent on the day of assessment. For each of the caregivers and the COAs included in the sample, detailed information on the following case identifications was also collected – true positive, true negative, false positive and false negative – to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of their measurements (Table 3).
Table 2: Sample size for first follow up assessment
Table 3: Validity of screening using MAMI-MUAC tapes during first follow-up assessment
Second follow-up assessment (step four)
The second follow-up training was carried out in November 2020, six months post-training of the caregivers. During this assessment, caregivers’ screening performance was re-assessed using the same methodology as in the first assessment. The sample size is presented in Table 4. Additionally, using a simple checklist, we also collected information on caregivers’ experience of using the MAMI-MUAC tape including on the tape’s wear and tear, its place of storage, any reported confusion over using the tape, frequency of screening and any barriers to referral to management services.
Table 4: Sample size for second follow up assessment
Referrals to MAMI programme for enrolment
In order to ascertain whether there had been a change in the origin and proportions of case referrals, we analysed case referrals following Family MUAC training. We extracted enrolment data from the MAMI programme database4 where MAMI referrals were recorded as follows: self-referral (referral by caregivers), outreach referral (referral by COAs), health facility referral, inpatient referral and monthly screening referral. We compared average monthly referrals pre-training (May 2019-April 2020) and post-training (May 2020-December 2020).
Findings
Coverage and performance of caregivers in measuring infants
Overall, 112 COAs (89.7%) and 1,289 caregivers with infants under six months of age (100%) received the training (Table 1). Sensitivity and specificity of screening by caregivers at first and second follow-up are presented in Table 5. Two months post-training (first follow-up) the sensitivity and specificity was 100% and 98.6%, respectively. Six months post-training (second follow-up), sensitivity was 88.9% and specificity was 96.2%.
Table 5: Sensitivity and specificity of screening test by caregivers during first and second follow-up assessment
Implications for case enrolment
Overall, the total number of referrals increased after Family MUAC training (Figure 3) – average monthly referrals pre-training was 11.6 and this increased to 19.1 post-training. Pre-training, average monthly outreach referrals contributed to most of the referrals (77.0%) and there were no self-referrals. Post-training, average monthly outreach referrals reduced to 45.3% while average monthly self-referrals contributed to 41.4% of total referrals.
Figure 3: Monthly referrals pre and post Family MUAC training
Note: The MAMI programme database has been maintained since May 2019
Caregivers’ experiences of MAMI-MUAC tapes
During the second follow-up assessment we asked caregivers about their experiences of using the MAMI-MUAC tapes. Findings showed that 56% of caregivers reported no wear and tear at all, 67% reported no confusion while using the tapes and 93% reported no barriers to referring their infants. Of caregivers who experienced wear and tear of tapes, it transpired that this was minimal and was mainly reported as the folding of the tape from the corners and in the middle due to its place of storage. The functionality of the tape was not considered to be affected. Of caregivers who reported confusion while using the tapes, the majority reported this was related to the reversible nature of the tapes. Regarding the storage of tapes, the majority (65%) stored tapes in a bag, one fifth of caregivers (19%) kept the tape on the table, the wall or on the front of the door, 4% kept it in a book and 2% reported having lost the tape. Regarding the use of tapes, the majority reported using it weekly (69%), 7% monthly, 12% every 15 days and 12% daily.
Discussion
Even during a pandemic, a high coverage of training was achieved (>90%) for both COAs and caregivers of infants under six months of age. The majority of caregivers trained by COAs correctly identified the MUAC of their infants; this was sustained six months post-training. Our findings also show that a substantial proportion of caregivers are actively screening and self-referring their infants, despite the community also benefiting from widespread, continual, active case finding in the community by COAs. This implies that they are engaged and motivated to play an active role in their infant’s wellbeing through early case identification and referral.
Screening of infants under six months of age using MAMI-MUAC tapes by both COAs and caregivers appears to be a feasible and effective approach, accounting for a major proportion of total enrolments between May and December 2020 (Figure 3). This means, in the absence of such training, and without the use of the MUAC tool, it is plausible that many of these ‘at- risk’ cases who need support would be missed. This highlights the value of MUAC screening in the context of COVID-19. Although we did not attempt to statistically validate our findings, our data could be useful to other organisations who are interested in implementing a similar approach. Our findings demonstrate that the MAMI-MUAC tape can function well when appropriate training and supervision are provided.
Nine months following the implementation of the Family MUAC approach alongside the use of MUAC by COAs, we plan to explore the feasibility of moving to using Family MUAC alone for the screening of infants under six months of age. This would reduce physical contact between health workers and beneficiaries and thus the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Additionally, the time saved by health workers could be utilised to provide other services such as community-based nutrition education or counselling, absentee and defaulter tracing and programme monitoring. The feasibility of this approach will be examined and documented.
For more information, please contact Hatty Barthorp.
More information can also be found at:
GOAL (2020). MAMI mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tapes. www.ennonline.net/mamimuactapes
GTAM Conversations on how programmes are adapting in light of COVID-19: Implementing the Family MUAC approach in Gambella, Ethiopia. https://www.ennonline.net//mediahub/podcast/gtamconversationsmuacethiopia
Subscribe freely to receive Field Exchange content to your mailbox or front door.
Endnotes
1 https://www.ennonline.net/ourwork/research/mami
2 The term family includes mothers and/or caregivers
3 A pdf of the MAMI-MUAC tapes is available to download at www.ennonline.net/mamimuactapes
4 MAMI programme database was maintained since May 2019
References
Blackwell, N., Myatt, M., Allafort-Duverger, T., Balogoun, A., Ibrahim, A., & Briend, A. (2015). Mothers Understand And Can do it (MUAC): a comparison of mothers and community health workers determining mid-upper arm circumference in 103 children aged from 6 months to 5 years. Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique, 73(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-015-0074-z
Bliss, J., Lelijveld, N., Briend, A., Kerac, M., Manary, M., McGrath, M., Weise Prinzo, Z., Shepherd, S., Marie Zagre, N., Woodhead, S., Guerrero, S., & Mayberry, A. (2018). Use of Mid-Upper Arm Circumference by Novel Community Platforms to Detect, Diagnose, and Treat Severe Acute Malnutrition in Children: A Systematic Review. Global health, science and practice, 6(3), 552–564. https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-18-00105
Burrell A, Barthorp H. (2020). GOAL’s experiences of management of at-risk mothers and infants (MAMI) programming in Ethiopia. Field Exchange 62.
Lelijveld N, Kerac M, McGrath M, Mwangome M and Berkley J A. (2017). A review of methods to detect cases of severely malnourished infants less than 6 months for their admission into therapeutic care. ENN, The Child Acute Illness and Nutrition Network and LSHTM.
Mwangome, M. K., Fegan, G., Mbunya, R., Prentice, A. M., & Berkley, J. A. (2012). Reliability and accuracy of anthropometry performed by community health workers among infants under 6 months in rural Kenya. Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH, 17(5), 622–629. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2012.02959.x
Rana R, Barthorp H, Murphy MT. (2020). Leaving no one behind: Community Management of At-risk Mothers and Infants under six months (MAMI) in the context of COVID-19 in Gambella refugee camps, Ethiopia. World Nutrition 11(2):108-20.
United Nations Children’s Fund and World Health Organization. (2020). Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment of Wasting in Children 0-59 Months through National Health Systems in the Context of COVID-19. UNICEF: New York.
More like this
FEX: Implementing the Family MUAC approach for infants under six months in the context of COVID-19 in Ethiopia
This is a summary of a Field Exchange field article that was included in issue 64. The original article was authored by Ritu Rana, Hatty Barthorp, Mary T Murphy and Alemayhu...
FEX: GOAL’s experiences of management of at-risk mothers and infants (MAMI) programming in Ethiopia
This article has been updated since the original version was published in March 2020. View this article as a pdf Lisez cet article en français ici By Alice Burrell...
FEX: Improving the uptake of family mid-upper arm circumference screening in Mali
View this article as a pdf Lisez cet article en français ici Carla Pramila Lopez is the Associate Director of Health Innovation/Design Practice Lead at the Airbel...
FEX: Management of acute malnutrition in infants less than six months in a South Sudanese refugee population in Ethiopia
By Mary T Murphy, Kassahun Abebe, Sinead O'Mahony, Hatty Barthorp & Chris Andert View this article as a pdf Lisez cet article en français ici Sinead O'Mahony is a...
FEX: The early detection of child wasting in Indonesia amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
View this article as a pdf This article outlines a family-centred screening programme for the early detection of child wasting which was piloted in March 2020 in selected...
FEX: Adaptations to community-based acute malnutrition treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic
View this article as a pdf Lisez cet article en français ici By Maria Wrabel, Sarah King and Heather Stobaugh Maria Wrabel is CMAM Adaptations Project Officer with...
Resource: MAMI mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tapes
MAMI-MUAC tapes using reduced thresholds have been developed by GOAL to help identify at-risk infants under 6 months. While validated MUAC thresholds do not yet exist for this...
FEX: Integrating screening for acute malnutrition into the vitamin A supplementation campaign in the Rohingya camps during the COVID-19 pandemic
View this article as a pdf Lisez cet article en français ici By Bakhodir Rahimov, Karanveer Singh and Piyali Mustaphi Bakhodir Rahimov is a Nutrition Sector...
MAMI Practice
MAMI Practice The MAMI Care Pathway Package (2021, Version 3) is a set of resources and materials that was co-created by members of the MAMI Global Network. Previously known...
FEX: Revised CMAM Training Guide
The Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance III Project (FANTA), in collaboration with partners (Action Against Hunger, Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA),...
FEX: The cost of implementing the C-MAMI tool to treat nutritionally vulnerable infants in Bangladesh
By Natasha Lelijveld, Mostofa Sarwar, Golam Mothabbir, Sarah Butler and Nicki Connell View this article as a pdf Natasha Lelijveld is a Research Fellow at the Centre for...
FEX: Adaptations to community-based acute malnutrition treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic
This is a summary of a Field Exchange field article that was included in issue 64. The original article was authored by Maria Wrabel, Sarah King and Heather Stobaugh Maria...
FEX: Piloting the C-MAMI approach in the Rohingya response in Bangladesh
By Anne Marie Kueter, Alice Burrell, Sarah Butler, Mostofa Sarwar and Habibur Rahaman View this article as a pdf Anne Marie is a nutritionist with over five years'...
FEX: In Chad, the Mother-MUAC approach improves treatment access for malnourished children
This is a summary of a Field Exchange field article that was included in issue 65. The original article was authored by Hyppolite Gnamien, Chantal Autotte Bouchard, Jean-Robert...
FEX: C-MAMI tool evaluation: Learnings from Bangladesh and Ethiopia
By Sarah Butler, Nicki Connell and Hatty Barthorp View this article as a pdf Sarah Butler is the Director of Emergency Nutrition at Save the Children, USA. She has more than...
FEX: Experiences of the Sustainable Nutrition and Agriculture Promotion (SNAP) programme in the Ebola response in Sierra Leone
By Sibida George and Georgia Beans Sibida George is Team Leader with International Medical Corps/ SNAP and is based in Sierra Leone. Georgia Beans is the Chief Of Party with...
MAMI News and Events
MAMI News If you would like to receive MAMI Global Network's monthly updates please subscribe here. Past issues of the newsletter can be viewed here. If you would like to...
FEX: Mise en œuvre de l’approche PB-familles pour les nourrissons de moins de six mois dans le contexte de la COVID-19 en Éthiopie
Read an English version of this article here Par Ritu Rana, Hatty Barthorp, Mary T. Murphy et Alemayhu Beri. Ritu Rana est conseillère en matière de recherche...
FEX: Family MUAC: A review of evidence and practice
View this article as a pdf Summary of research1 By Emilie Buttarelli, Sophie Woodhead and Dolores Rio Dr Emilie Buttarelli is a bio-cultural anthropologist (Health Science,...
FEX: Use of educational videos to improve maternal breastfeeding knowledge and practices in Ethiopia
View this article as a pdf By Ritu Rana, Hatty Barthorp, Liya Assefa, Alemayhu Beri and Mary T Murphy Ritu Rana is a GOAL Nutrition Research Advisor (Management of At-risk...
Reference this page
Ritu Rana, Hatty Barthorp, Mary T Murphy and Alemayhu Beri (). Implementing the family-MUAC approach for infants under 6 months in the context of COVID-19 in Ethiopia. Field Exchange 64, January 2021. p64. www.ennonline.net/fex/64/ethiopiagoalcovidadaptations
(ENN_6858)