Preventing Stunting Through Early Nutritional Intervention: Effectiveness and Economic Evaluation in Children With Weight Faltering
Author(s)
Irwandy Irwandy, Dr1, Adhariana Kaddas, Dr2, Adelia Ady Mangilep, master's1, Conny Tanjung, Dr3, Bahrul Fikri, Dr2, Nasrum Massi, Professor2, Ray Wagiu Basrowi, Dr4, Tifanny Istamto, Dr5, Bertri Maulidya Masita, Dr6.
1Faculty of Public Health Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia, 2Faculty of Medicine Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia, 3Post Graduate School of Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia, 4Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia, 5Nutricia Global, Hoofddorp, Netherland, Netherlands, 6Danone Specialized Nutrition, Jakarta, Indonesia.
1Faculty of Public Health Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia, 2Faculty of Medicine Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia, 3Post Graduate School of Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia, 4Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia, 5Nutricia Global, Hoofddorp, Netherland, Netherlands, 6Danone Specialized Nutrition, Jakarta, Indonesia.
OBJECTIVES: Nutritional advice (NA) and oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are important preventative strategies for malnutrition, particularly weight faltering in children. The objectives was to determine the minimum period (in months) required for these interventions to effectively improve weight outcomes in children aged 6 to 12 months, as well as to compare the costs to hospital treatments for malnutrition-related conditions in Makassar, Indonesia
METHODS: A three-month intervention program for 96 children with weight faltering (percentiles <15) included NA and ONS, as well as monthly weight measurements. Children whose weight loss persisted continued to receive NA and ONS. The cost assessments included intervention costs, healthcare costs resulting from hospital treatments for protein-energy malnutrition, and loss of productivity costs for parents, which were computed using the average monthly pay of freelancers in Makassar
RESULTS: Within the first month, 75% of children recovered from weight loss (p <0.001). By the second month, 83.3% of the remaining cases had significantly improved (p <0.01). After two months, no significant improvements were found (p = 0.625). From IDR 698,53 (€41) in the first month to IDR 983,396 (€57) in the third month, the cost per kid increased. Hospital care costs per child averaged IDR 5,826,835 (€340). Intervention was 4.03 times cheaper than hospitalization
CONCLUSIONS: a two-month NA and ONS prevention intervention was effective in improving weight outcomes and significantly less expensive than hospital treatment. Early nutritional interventions improved resource use, reduced severe malnutrition, and reduced hospital costs. These findings suggest more study is needed on the broad adoption and long-term consequences of such measures to prevent malnutrition.
METHODS: A three-month intervention program for 96 children with weight faltering (percentiles <15) included NA and ONS, as well as monthly weight measurements. Children whose weight loss persisted continued to receive NA and ONS. The cost assessments included intervention costs, healthcare costs resulting from hospital treatments for protein-energy malnutrition, and loss of productivity costs for parents, which were computed using the average monthly pay of freelancers in Makassar
RESULTS: Within the first month, 75% of children recovered from weight loss (p <0.001). By the second month, 83.3% of the remaining cases had significantly improved (p <0.01). After two months, no significant improvements were found (p = 0.625). From IDR 698,53 (€41) in the first month to IDR 983,396 (€57) in the third month, the cost per kid increased. Hospital care costs per child averaged IDR 5,826,835 (€340). Intervention was 4.03 times cheaper than hospitalization
CONCLUSIONS: a two-month NA and ONS prevention intervention was effective in improving weight outcomes and significantly less expensive than hospital treatment. Early nutritional interventions improved resource use, reduced severe malnutrition, and reduced hospital costs. These findings suggest more study is needed on the broad adoption and long-term consequences of such measures to prevent malnutrition.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EE614
Topic
Clinical Outcomes, Economic Evaluation, Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Nutrition