NUTRITION INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN ETHIOPIA

Child Nutrition Status in Ethiopia

Wasting: 10.5%, Stunting: 46.5%, Underweight: 38.4% (DHS, 2005)

Demographic Health SurveysPurpose: Long-term planning & policy-makingImplementers: CSA (Central Statistical Authority)Frequency: every 5 yearsGeographic coverage: nationalTargets: children 0-59 months + womenIndicators: WFH, WFA, HFA and BMIMethod: Two stage cluster sampling (1st stage PPS on enumeration areas, 2nd stage systematic random selection on HH lists) Issues: quality of anthropometric data unknown, BMI not adjusted, seasonality, inaccurate results by region, long delays in analyzing/publishing

Welfare Monitoring SurveysPurpose: Long-term planning & policy-making

Implementers: CSA and MofFED

Frequency: every 2-4 years

Geographic coverage: national

Targets: children 3-59 months

Indicators: WFH, WFA and HFA

Method: Two stage cluster sampling

Issues: quality of anthropometric data unknown, age band, seasonality

Micronutrient Surveys

Purpose: Long-term planning & policy-making

Implementers: Ethiopian National Research Institute Frequency: not regular (last one in 2005, previous one in 1981)

Geographic coverage: national and regional

Targets: children and women

Indicators: Vitamin A, Iodine and Iron

Method: multi-stage cluster sampling

Small Scale Nutrition Surveys

Purpose: Short-term emergency response and program monitoring/evaluationImplementers: NGOs and EWD of the Gvt of EthiopiaFrequency: ad hoc, based on EW indicators and donor requirements in NGO project areasGeographic coverage: district or livelihood zoneTargets: children 65 to 110 cmIndicators: WFH, MUAC and oedemaMethod: 30 x 30 cluster surveys since 2002 and SMART methodology since 2006Issues: limited geographic coverage, lack of baseline data, use limited to GAM/SAM

Sentinel Site Surveillance

Operational from the early 80ies to 2002 in 9 drought-prone zones of Ethiopia – funded by SC-UK

Purpose: Early Warning

Frequency: every three months

Geographic coverage: administrative zone

Targets: children 70 to 110 cm

Indicators: mean weight for height

Method: random sample of 12 clusters in each zone, longitudinal survey of 50 children per cluster

Issues: financial and technical sustainability

Community-Based Nutrition DataPurpose: identification of acutely malnourished children for the Therapeutic and Supplementary Feeding

Implementers: Ministry of Health

Frequency: every 6 months

Geographic coverage: district level, 350 districts

Targets: children 65 to 110 cm

Indicators: MUAC and oedema

Method: central screening undertaken along mass campaign of vitamin A supplementation, deworming, and measles vaccination.

Issues: quality of data, self-selected sample, frequency, delayed data flow

Feeding Program Data

Sources: admission rates from Therapeutic Feeding Programs (TFU or OTP)

Implementers: Ministry of Health and NGOs

Frequency: every month

Geographic coverage: district level

Targets: children 0-59 months

Indicators: WFH, MUAC and oedema

Issues: poor and erratic reporting