Attachments
Executive Summary
The SLEAC assessment was conducted in selected districts from Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, Bakool, Benadir, Gedo and Mudug regions of Somalia. Some assessed locations include Kaxda, Deynile, Afgoye, Balcad, Elbarde, Xudur, Galkacyo, and Baardhere) in close collaboration with Caafimaad Plus consortium members and the ministry of health state level across the different regions. Somalia’s estimated acute malnutrition burden from August 2022 to July 2023 is approximately 1.8 million children. This figure represents 54% of the total population of children in Somalia and includes 513,550 children who are likely to be severely malnourished. The ongoing conflict and reoccurring droughts and floods trigger food insecurity in Somalia. Children living in emergency contexts are extremely vulnerable and at high risk of becoming severely malnourished.
To strengthen Nutrition surveillance across Somalia and provide quality and timely nutrition data.
The SLEAC assessment was undertaken to assess coverage and access of the IMAM services across the Caafimaad plus operation districts to strengthen nutrition surveillance and provide quality and timely nutrition data.
In each of the districts assessed, the standard SLEAC (Simplified LQAS2 Evaluation of Access and Coverage) methodology was used to establish coverage at district level using the estimators and classifications approach. Qualitative information was also collected from all the SAM cases identified on factors inhibiting access to SAM treatment services as well as those in favor of access.
A two-stage sampling methodology was deployed (sampling of villages and then of SAM children) to classify the level of coverage in each district, i.e., to what extent severely acutely malnourished (SAM) children are reaching treatment services. In addition, the assessment administered questionnaires to each SAM and MAM cases found, whether covered (undergoing treatment) or uncovered (not being treated) to provide information regarding factors influencing access and coverage.
The SLEAC survey shows the prevalence of malnutrition across the programme areas by the consortium was at 15% for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and at 8% for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) using MUAC measurement. Across the districts, Baardhere and Kahda had higher cases of SAM than another district by 12% and 11% respectively. The overall proxy Global acute malnutrition (GAM) by MUAC was 23%.