Executive summary
Six years of on-going conflict has had a significant negative effect on the Humanitarian sector in Syria. The Health and nutrition services are among some of the most affected sectors in the country. The most vulnerable population groups in Syria consist of mainly Children under 5 years and Pregnant and lactating women (PLW).
The Eastern and Northern rural of Aleppo are one of the most IDPs receiving area in Syria, Al Bab area was under the control of the Islamic state for about three years, therefore many NGOs suspended their activities. In light of this, the area lost most of the humanitarian services and the situation had deteriorated. After the oppositions had taken the control of the area, many people had been returned and the area also received a huge wave of IDPs from Raqqa and Deir-Ezzour, many NGOs are now working in the area and are providing Health and Nutrition Services.
The last SMART survey conducted in Aleppo in 2015 showed a GAM rate of 1.3 % (0.5 – 3.1 95% C.I) Al Bab area was excluded from that survey due to insecurity. This result could be extended to Al Bab district due to the common factors and similarities in geography.
The main Goal of this survey was to Estimate the prevalence of malnutrition in the children between 6-59 months in the accessible areas of AL Bab district. A two-stage cluster sampling methodology was used. 30 clusters from the area were randomly selected. The field data collection was conducted between the 8th and 17th August 2017 and was under taken by four teams selected after training. The data collection lasted for 8 days. In each cluster 12 HH were randomly selected using the systematic random sampling method. Each HH was visited and all questionnaire and measurement were taken.
All 30 pre-selected cluster were visited and no reserve cluster were used. 347 HH were visited where 480 children 6 -59 month were surveyed for malnutrition. The overall plausibility score of the Survey was 10 which is considered as good (Annex 1).
The GAM rate in children 6- 59 month was 3.1% (1.8 – 5.5 95% C.I.), the severity of this prevalence classified as “low” based on WHO classification1 for severity of malnutrition, if compared to other SMART surveys conducted in Syria in the last years, we find approximately same level of malnutrition ( < 5%).
Recommendation:
Enhancing the ongoing nutrition programs and focus on improving of the Infants and Young Child Feeding IYCF and the Community Health Worker CHW programs and improving the access to health services and water, hygiene and sanitation conditions.