OVERVIEW
This issue highlights the significant
improvement in nutritional status recorded in the Lower Nugal Valley along
with some stabilisation of malnutrition levels in surveillance sites in
the Sool Plateau.
In areas of NE Somalia hit by multiple shocks, extreme coping strategies and the ongoing humanitarian interventions have prevented a deterioration in the nutritional status.
In Northern Gedo, the poor nutrition situation persists and admissions of severely malnourished children for therapeutic feeding remain high. Plans for the establishment of a sentinel site surveillance in the area are underway.
Preliminary results of a survey in Somali Region Ethiopia indicate a critical nutrition situation as Jilaal season starts.
SOOL PLATEAU AND LOWER NUGAAL SENTINEL SURVEILLANCE RESULT
Significant decline in levels of malnutrition in Lower Nugal Valley
A significant decline in malnutrition was observed1 within Lower Nugal Valley, compared to the past round of sentinel sites surveillance in November 2004 (global acute malnutrition 33.9% (CI: 28.2 - 40.1). Diarrhoea was significantly associated with cases of malnutrition. Of the 268 under-five children assessed in Lower Nugal valley, 17.2% (CI: 12.8% - 22.2%) were malnourished (weight for height <-2 Z score or oedema) and 3.7% (CI: 1.8% - 6.7%) were severely malnourished (weight for height <-3 Z score or oedema).
Using mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) 159 adult women were assessed. About 7.5% were malnourished2 indicating a slight decline from the malnutrition levels reported in November 2004. About 80% of the malnourished women were pregnant.
With the exception of ARI, the prevalence of communicable diseases was generally lower than those observed in November 2004. Deaths in the underfive group in the previous 30 days were reported as Godallo - 2, Carooley - 2 and Huddun - 6. Measles, diarrhoea, malnutrition and ARI reportedly contributed to the deaths.
Cereals (100%), fats/oils (97%) and dairy products (58%) were the main food groups consumed. Meat, vegetables and pulses that are rich in proteins and micronutrients were consumed by less than 15% of the children. The majority of the foods were obtained through gifts from friends and relatives, food aid, bartering or borrowing.
Footnotes:
1 FSAU in collaboration with MOHL Somaliland carried out the fifth round of sentinel sites surveillance between 29th January and 4th February 2005 covering highly vulnerable areas of Sool plateau and Lower Nugal valley livelihood zones. As shown on the map, six sites that continued to indicate significantly high levels of malnutrition or deterioration in the nutrition situation in past rounds of sentinel sites surveillance were purposively selected and assessed (see January 2005 Nutrition Update). Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from randomly selected households in each site. A minimum of 50 under-five children were targeted and assessed in each site.
2 MUAC <23 cm among pregnant women; <18.5 cm among lactating mothers as well as those neither pregnant nor lactating.
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