Background: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is one of the common childhood problems worldwide endangering the lives of 17 million (2.5%) children under five years old. It is also highly prevalent among Ethiopian under-five-year children (7%). This study assessed recovery time and its predictors among under-five children with severe acute malnutrition admitted to outpatient management at Dodota District, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.
Methods: Institution-based cohort study was done on secondary data of children who were treated on an outpatient therapeutic feeding program. Totally, 984 subjects were collected from registries; while their data were coded and statistically analyzed.
Results: The median recovery time was 7.12 weeks [Inter Quartile Range (IQR): 6.09-8.42] or 50 days with an overall recovery rate of 84.2%. The Kaplan Meier estimates of recovery rate were 7%, 35%, 47%, 54%, and 88% at 4^th, 6^th, 8^th and 12^th weeks of follow-up, respectively. Routine Amoxicillin treatment had 1.28 times higher probability of getting recovered [Adjusted hazard ratios (AHRs): 1.28, 95%Confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.60]. Recovery time for children who were supplemented with vitamin A was determined (AHR: 1.71, 95%CI: 1.35-2.16). Outpatient admission of children at health centers had 1.37 times higher probability of getting recovered from SAM (AHR: 1.37, 95%CI: 1.16-1.63).
Conclusion: The recovery rate is within national and international standards. Amoxicillin treatment, vitamin A supplementation, and type of health facility had a significant association with the recovery time among SAM children treated at outpatient therapeutic feeding program (OTP).