Family MUAC: Empowering mothers to detect malnutrition
Despite the presence of effective CMAM programmes, many children with acute malnutrition are still diagnosed too late, significantly increasing their mortality risk. Mother-led mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening, also known as Family MUAC, is an approach where caregivers are trained to screen for acute malnutrition in their children by measuring MUAC and testing for oedema. Involving mothers in nutrition screening activities recognizes the fact that they are best placed to identify early signs of malnutrition and reinforces their role in protecting and promoting their child’s health.
This approach was developed and researched by the Alliance of International Medical Action (ALIMA) in Niger. World Vision Mauritania was an early adopter of this approach in 2016, being the first agency to use the approach in the country, including both CMAM and WASH components. Within the first two months of the intervention, 1,879 mothers were trained to screen their 6 to 59-month-old children for malnutrition. In 2018, World Vision Mauritania was asked to take on the role of training other partners on Family MUAC across five regions.
A shift to minimal-touch protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a rapid expansion of the use of this approach globally. Family MUAC has been implemented by World Vision in 12 countries: Bangladesh, Burundi, DRC, Indonesia, Kenya, Mauritania, Niger, Philippines, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia. In addition, World Vision is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Johns Hopkins University to implement a research project on Family MUAC in South Sudan.
Aichata says: "I have become a nurse for my children"
Aichata, a mother of four, lives in Mauritania’s Assaba Region. During a routine monitoring visit, she was proud to show her skills in malnutrition screening with a colour-coded MUAC tape. She learned to do this just a month and a half ago, and since then has already assisted in a mass screening in her district. At least once a month, Aichata measures two of her children who fall within the age range for screening, and explains that both are in the green range, which means they are healthy. She says that she has become a nurse for her children.
Resources
World Vision Family MUAC Tools: World Vision developed a number of Family MUAC tools in English and French
The State of Acute Malnutrition has gathered Family MUAC resources, including research and tools and guidelines, in both English and French.
Family MUAC videos by Alima and ECHO:
What If: MUAC for Mothers (1:54)
Mothers can do it: Screening Malnutrition in Niger (1:42) Les couleurs de la vie: dépister la malnutrition au Niger (1:42)