Dataset for the study : Exploring the economic and social dimensions of care seeking for severe acute malnutrition in northern Senegal: Findings from a descriptive cross-sectional study

This dataset was generated as part of a descriptive cross-sectional study exploring the economic and social dimensions of care-seeking for severe acute malnutrition among children aged 6–59 months in northern Senegal. It includes anonymized individual-level information on child and household sociodemographic characteristics, care-seeking pathways before admission, delays in accessing formal healthcare, reported reasons for delay, use of traditional care, household decision-making related to hospitalization, treatment-related expenses during inpatient care, sources of funding used to cover these expenses, and reported consequences for the household, including coping strategies related to food, education, and social expenditures. The study received ethical approval from the Senegalese National Committee for Health Research.