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Review
. 2012 Mar 1;3(2):242-9.
doi: 10.3945/an.111.001263.

Program responses to acute and chronic malnutrition: divergences and convergences

Gilles Bergeron  1 , Tony Castleman
Affiliations
Review

Program responses to acute and chronic malnutrition: divergences and convergences

Gilles Bergeron et al. Adv Nutr. .

Abstract

Program approaches for addressing acute malnutrition and those for addressing chronic malnutrition have grown in different directions. Their specialization has led to productive advances in the efficacy of specific interventions but has also created divergences in implementation. Greater convergence and integration between the 2 sets of approaches would help programs respond to the diversity of conditions faced in the field and enable a more comprehensive continuum of care from prevention to treatment. After reviewing the causes of the differences in approach, this paper examines programmatic and scientific challenges to greater convergence and suggests steps to promote effective integration of acute and chronic malnutrition services. Steps include strengthening community linkages between program platforms, assessing the degree and type of integration needed in various situations, identifying cost efficiencies, and developing joint tools where possible.

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Conflict of interest statement

Author disclosures: G. Bergeron and T. Castleman, no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CMAM model. Adapted with permission from FANTA-2 project (25). CMAM, community-based management of acute malnutrition.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Example of a food-assisted intervention to address chronic malnutrition. Adapted with permission from FANTA-2 project (15).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Publication types