ABSTRACT:
Abstract Backgroud In 2020, the WHO estimated that nearly 144 million children under the age of 5 suffered from stunting, and 49.5 million from wasting, half of whom were in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa [1]. In Benin, in the department of Alibori, the prevalence of wasting was 3.5% compared to 2.4% nationally [2]. This study explored the performance of nutrition centres (NCs) in the management of malnutrition in the Djougou-Copargo-Ouaké health zone located in the Alibori department in 2025.

METHODS:
This was a cross-sectional, evaluative study conducted in the Djougou-Copargo-Ouaké health district from January to July 2025. All target groups were selected using a non-probability sampling method. Forty-five nutrition centers were selected by exhaustive sampling, along with 43 providers of outpatient nutrition centers (ONCs) and two providers of therapeutic nutrition centers (TNCs), 43 community health workers selected by purposive sampling, and 240 malnourished children selected for convenience. Performance was evaluated by assessing the three components of Donabedian's model: "structure," "process," and "outcomes," which were assessed using the Varkevisser scale.

RESULTS:
Of the 45 selected Nutritional Centers (NCs), 43 were Nutritional Assessment Centers (NACs) and two were Nutritional Assessment Centers (NACs). Of the 240 children, 215 were in NACs, 52.5% of whom were girls with a mean age of 17 months ± 9 months. The mean age of the providers was 36.43 years ± 9.00 years. Females were more represented at 62.69%. Their predominant educational level was secondary school (44.44%), and 13.95% of them had received training in malnutrition management. Overall performance at the NAC level was "Average" (78.90%), and overall performance at the NAC level was "Good" (83.33%).

CONCLUSIONS:
The results showed that the CNAs had an overall "Average" performance, while the CNTs had a "Good" performance. It is essential to strengthen the skills of human resources.