Table 1.

ITFC and ATFC admission and discharge criteria for infants <6 m at the MSF facility in Maiduguri (based on MSF protocol and adapted to the project context).

ITFC	ATFC
Criteria for admission
Anthropometrics: Oedema and/or WAZ or WLZ <−2 and/or MUAC <110 mm (≤6 weeks) <115 mm (7 weeks to 5 months) AND/OR either condition affecting feeding or medical complication	Referral for follow‐up after discharge from ITFC
Criteria for discharge
‒ Clinically well ‒ Effective breastfeeding or effective and safe replacement feeding on BMS ‒ Weight gain of approximately 10–20 g/day on exclusive breastfeeding or standard BMS volumes for at least 2–3 days ‒ Absence of oedema ‒ No medical complications or possible to control at home ‒ Caregiver feels prepared for discharge and the family situation is as supportive as possible	‒ WAZ/WLZ ≥−2 on two consecutive visits and MUAC ≥125 mm ‒ Adequate weight gain over at least 2 weeks of approximately 10–20 g/day. ‒ Absence of oedema ‒ Breastfeeding effectively or feeding well with BMS
Possible outcome
Cured: Meets ITFC discharge criteria and achieved WAZ/WLZ ≥−2	Cured: Meet ATFC discharge criteria
Stabilized (ATFC): Meets ITFC discharge criteria but WAZ/WLZ <−2	Disqualified: Wrong assessment of nutritional status, no need for therapeutic treatment
Referral out: Transferred to another facility for advanced medical/surgical treatment	Defaulter: Not attending ATFC for 2 consecutive weeks
Left against medical advice: Leaves the hospital despite medical advice to continue inpatient treatment	Nonrespondent: Exits the programme after 12 weeks of treatment, with stagnant weight, dietary treatment well observed, WLZ >−3 and absence of medical comorbidity
Death: Dies while admitted	Death: Dies within 2 weeks from the last ATFC visit

Abbreviations: ATFC, Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centre; BMS, breast milk substitute; ITFC, Inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centre; MUAC, middle‐upper arm circumference; WAZ, weight‐for‐age z‐score; WLZ, weight‐for‐length z‐score.