[ Effets de l’intégration communautaire sur la prévention et la prise en charge de la malnutrition en République Centrafricaine: Cas du Centre de Santé de Ouandago dans le District sanitaire de la Nana Gribizi ]
Kévin Debonheur Saramandji-Loko1, Bassirou Doussa2, Boubacar Savadogo3, and Christian Maucler Pamatika4
1 Université de Bangui, Ecole Doctorale des Sciences de la Santé Humaine et Vétérinaire, Central African Republic
2 Prowess University, 16192 Coastal Highway Lewes, DE 19958 State of Delaware, USA
3 Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CNRST), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
4 Ecole Doctorale des Sciences de la Santé Humaine et Vétérinaire (EDSSHV), Faculté des Sciences de la Santé (FACSS), Université de Bangui (UB), Central Africain Republic
Original language: French
Copyright © 2026 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Acute malnutrition remains a major public health problem in the Central African Republic, particularly in the Nana Gribizi region. To improve early management and prevent nutritional deterioration, an integrated community based approach has been implemented. The study aims to assess the impact of this approach on the prevention and management of malnutrition. The study, conducted in Ouandago in the commune of Nana Outa, is qualitative in nature. It involved the local community and health personnel. The sample included various groups: caregivers of malnourished children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, heads of households, community leaders, model mothers, community volunteers, and health workers. Data were collected from the malnutrition treatment register and through interviews, then entered Excel 2016 and analyzed using Epi Info version 7. The age of malnourished children ranged from 6 to 55 months, with boys being predominant in both periods (54% and 58.3%). Comparing the nutritional situation before the integration of the community approach in 2021 with that of 2023—two years after implementation, the number of malnutrition cases significantly decreased, dropping from 871 in 2021 to 503 in 2023. The prevalence of severe acute malnutrition fell from 3.1% to 1.7%, moderate acute malnutrition from 12.57% to 5.9%, and global acute malnutrition from 15.6% to 7.5%. The community based approach clearly improves nutritional care. Thanks to Model Mothers and community volunteers, good nutritional practices have improved, and the prevalence of acute malnutrition has decreased.
Author Keywords: effects, community integration, malnutrition, Ouandago, Central African Republic.
Kévin Debonheur Saramandji-Loko1, Bassirou Doussa2, Boubacar Savadogo3, and Christian Maucler Pamatika4
1 Université de Bangui, Ecole Doctorale des Sciences de la Santé Humaine et Vétérinaire, Central African Republic
2 Prowess University, 16192 Coastal Highway Lewes, DE 19958 State of Delaware, USA
3 Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CNRST), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
4 Ecole Doctorale des Sciences de la Santé Humaine et Vétérinaire (EDSSHV), Faculté des Sciences de la Santé (FACSS), Université de Bangui (UB), Central Africain Republic
Original language: French
Copyright © 2026 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Acute malnutrition remains a major public health problem in the Central African Republic, particularly in the Nana Gribizi region. To improve early management and prevent nutritional deterioration, an integrated community based approach has been implemented. The study aims to assess the impact of this approach on the prevention and management of malnutrition. The study, conducted in Ouandago in the commune of Nana Outa, is qualitative in nature. It involved the local community and health personnel. The sample included various groups: caregivers of malnourished children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, heads of households, community leaders, model mothers, community volunteers, and health workers. Data were collected from the malnutrition treatment register and through interviews, then entered Excel 2016 and analyzed using Epi Info version 7. The age of malnourished children ranged from 6 to 55 months, with boys being predominant in both periods (54% and 58.3%). Comparing the nutritional situation before the integration of the community approach in 2021 with that of 2023—two years after implementation, the number of malnutrition cases significantly decreased, dropping from 871 in 2021 to 503 in 2023. The prevalence of severe acute malnutrition fell from 3.1% to 1.7%, moderate acute malnutrition from 12.57% to 5.9%, and global acute malnutrition from 15.6% to 7.5%. The community based approach clearly improves nutritional care. Thanks to Model Mothers and community volunteers, good nutritional practices have improved, and the prevalence of acute malnutrition has decreased.
Author Keywords: effects, community integration, malnutrition, Ouandago, Central African Republic.
Abstract: (french)
La malnutrition aiguë demeure un problème majeur en République Centrafricaine, notamment dans la Nana Gribizi. Pour améliorer la prise en charge précoce et prévenir la détérioration nutritionnelle, une approche communautaire intégrée est mise en œuvre. L’étude vise à analyser l’impact de cette approche sur la prévention et la prise en charge de la malnutrition. L’étude, menée à Ouandago dans la commune de Nana Outa, est de nature qualitative. Elle a impliqué la communauté locale et le personnel de santé. L’échantillon regroupait diverses catégories: accompagnants d’enfants malnutris, femmes enceintes et allaitantes, chefs de ménage, leaders communautaires, mamans modèles, relais communautaires et personnel soignant. Les données ont été collectées à partir du registre de prise en charge des malnutris et d’entretiens, puis saisies sous Excel 2016 et analysées avec le logiciel Epi Info version 7. L’âge des malnutris varie de 6 à 55 mois. Le sexe masculin était prédominant durant les deux périodes (54% et 58,3%). En comparant la situation nutritionnelle avant l’intégration de l’approche communautaire en 2021 à celle de 2023 soit 2 ans après l’intégration communautaire, le nombre de cas de malnutrition a considérablement baissé. Le nombre d’enfants malnutris était passé de 871 en 2021 à 503 malnutris en 2023. La prévalence de la malnutrition aiguë sévère a baissé car elle était passée de 3,1% en 2021 à 1,7% en 2023. La prévalence de la malnutrition aiguë modérée (12,57% en 2021 contre 5,9% en 2023) et celle de la malnutrition aiguë globale (15,6% en 2021 contre 7,5% en 2023) ont doublement baissé. L’approche communautaire améliore nettement la prise en charge nutritionnelle. Grâce aux Mamans Modèles et aux relais communautaires, les bonnes pratiques nutritionnelles progressent et la prévalence de la malnutrition aiguë diminue.
Author Keywords: effets, intégration communautaire, malnutrition, Ouandago, République Centrafricaine.
