Africa has the world’s highest burden of risk factors for poor child development and health, most of which are associated with infectious diseases and the social environments in which children live.
This study analyzed the activity volumes of 15 at-risk child clinics (ARCCs) in Beira, Mozambique, in order to determine the health profiles of the children using their services from January 2015 to December 2017.
A total of 17,657 first visits were taken into consideration, 12,300 (69.7%) of which for HIV exposure, 542 (3.1%) for tuberculosis, 1,664 (9.4%) for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), 772 (4.4%) for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and, finally, 2,542 (14.4%) for other risk factors.
Because children represent the most vulnerable population segment, a constant focus should be kept on their health needs, especially in developing countries.
Mozambique’s ARCCs could function as strategic hubs from which to better understand the health needs of young patients as well as to monitor the quality of care provided to them.