Preliminary findings from 2016 Gu season nutrition surveys among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Somalia
Key Highlights
As part of Gu 2016 assessment plan, FSNAU and partners working in Somalia conducted integrated Nutrition and Food security assessments among the 12 Internally Displaced Person (IDP) settlements across Somalia from May 28th to June 3rd 2016. A total of 7 683 children (6-59 months) and 3 710 of women in the reproductive age group (15-49 years) were taken from 4 520 households. The objective of the assessments was to monitor the nutrition situation of these vulnerable IDP population groups as part of FSNAU’s biannual surveillance activities. The Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions (SMART) methodology was used for the assessment. Sampling was based on Probability Proportionate to Size (PPS) two stage cluster sampling procedure for all assessments except Qardho and Dhusamareeb where exhaustive sampling was used.
Mortality survey was collected at the household level retrospectively within 90 days recall period. While other contextual factors on food security, WATSAN, household and child diversity, maternal health and nutrition data were collected at every Nth Household (skip pattern at every odd numbered household). Household variables such as (anthropometric and all other contextual indicators) and mortality were entered using EPI info soft 3.5.4 and ENA SMART software (July 9th, 2015 version) respectively. For quality assurance, supervisors’ would export EPI info file having anthropometric dataset to ENA software and were able to gauge quality of data and survey team performance on a daily basis using ENA SMART software plausibility parameters.
Acute malnutrition in children 6-59 months is a direct outcome indicator of recent changes in nutritional status and sickness. (Map 1 and Annex 7) shows coverage of IDP nutrition situation in Gu 2016 among 12 IDP settlements across Somalia (location of IDP’s, sample size and response rate).
Critical levels of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM rate ≥15 %) were observed among six IDPs of 12 surveyed during Gu 2016 assessment. These are Dhobley, Baidoa and Dolow IDPs in South-Central regions and Garowe, Bosasso and Galkayo in Northeast region. It is also of a concern to note that nutrition situation in three of these IDPs (Dolow, Garowe & Galkayo) is sustained as Critical since last two years. Serious GAM levels (10-14.9%) were also recorded among IDPs in Mogadishu, Kismayo and Dhusamareb in South Central region, Qardho IDPs (Northeast) and Hargeisa IDPs (Northwest). Alert level of GAM (5-9.9 %) was seen only among Burao IDPs in the Northwest.
Since Gu 2015, a drastic deterioration in nutrition assessment is noted in Bossaso IDP located in Northeast region while malnutrition prevalence in Dobley IDP in South Central region showed an improvement from a GAM of 20.7 percent to 17.7 percent. However, the change in prevalence was not statistically significant and it remained as critical in terms of the burden of wasting prevalence.