SOMALI NUTRITION STRATEGY 2011 – 2013 - ReliefWeb

The results of the National Micronutrient
and Anthropometric Nutrition survey 2009
confirm this pattern of higher prevalence
of stunting and wasting in South Central
Somalia compared to Somaliland and
Puntland (see figure 7). The meta analysis
of data for 2010-2008 also reveals variation
by region. Gedo region is the worst
affected region across the country with a
median acute malnutrition rate of 21.5%
and a persistently Very Critical nutrition
situation. Galgadud (18.4%), Bay (18.0%),
Bakool (17.1%) and Hiran (16.7%) also
show high median wasting rates over the
period 2001-2008.
Figure 7: Malnutrition rates by zone, according to National
Anthropometric Micronutrient Survey results 2009
prevalence (%)
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1.3
4.1
NEZ NWZ SCZ Combined
5.9
4
10.7
16.5
13.9 13.9
16.5
19.5
SAM GAM Stunting
31.6
23.2
Source: FSNAU 2010
45
2.4 Micronutrient malnutrition
Throughout Somalia the presence of risk factors for micronutrient malnutrition (poverty, poor
access to food, low diet diversity, high morbidity) is high suggesting micronutrient deficiencies are a
significant public health problem. The findings of MICS 2006 showed that only 1.2% of households
use iodised salt while coverage of Vitamin A supplementation in children 6 to 59 months was
24% but otherwise data on the extent of the problem was limited. In 2009 a national micronutrient
and anthropometric nutrition survey was conducted to address the information gap and inform
appropriate responses. The national two stage cluster survey was conducted in the three zones
to determine the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, Iron deficiency and anaemia in children 6-59
months and women of reproductive age and iodine deficiency in school aged children and women.
Information was also collected regarding infant feeding and care practices and anthropometric
status. Field work was completed between March and August 2009, followed by laboratory analysis
of samples.
Results of the survey demonstrated the
prevalence of both nutritional anaemia and
vitamin A deficiency in women and children
of all age groups are severe according to
WHO classifications and therefore are of
significant public health importance.
Anaemia prevalence was 59.3% for children
aged 6 to 59 months, 38.5% for school aged
children, 46.6% for non pregnant women and
49.1% for pregnant women. In children aged
6 to 59 months, there was no significant
difference in prevalence of anaemia between
Testing for Anaemia, FSNAU
the zones but rural children were found to be
50% more at risk of developing anaemia than their urban counterparts. There was also a significant
difference between prevalence of anaemia in children less than two years (73.7%) and those over
two (51.9%).
Findings for the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency indicate a severe situation according to the
WHO classification of above 20% prevalence, across all zones and each group. Among children 6
to 59 months, the overall prevalence of vitamin A deficiency was 33.3%, with a higher prevalence in
South Central Somalia (40.7%) compared to Somaliland (25.6%) and Puntland (24.1%). Similarly,
overall prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in school aged children was 31.9% and in women, 54.4%.