Nutritional Assessment and Analysis

Day: 3 Time: 90 mins

Objectives:

• NGO partners understand the concept of various

degree of malnutrition.

• NGO partners are able to recognize the micro

nutrient deficiencies among children.

• NGO partners are proactive to reduce

malnutrition among children
FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION SECURITY

A family (or country) may be food

secure, yet have many individuals
who are nutritionally insecure.

Food security is therefore often a

necessary but not sufficient
condition for nutrition security.
 NUTRITION SECURITY
• Nutrition security is an outcome of
• –good health,
• –a healthy environment,
• –and good caring practices in addition to
household-level food security
FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION SECURITY

For example, a mother may have reliable

access to the components of a healthy
diet, but because of poor health or
improper care, ignorance, gender, or
personal preferences, she may not be
able to or may choose not to use the food
in a nutritionally sound manner, thereby
becoming nutritionally insecure
 MALNUTRITION

•It arises from either excessive deficiency of

food or
•Excessive consumption of food leading to
overweight and impaired physiological
functions or
•Consumption of the wrong type of food in
wrong proportions
UNDERNUTRITION

•It arises primarily because of inadequate

food intake

•The total quantity of food intake is less

than the required quantity

•As a result, there is primarily energy

deficiency followed by protein deficiency
and other micronutrient deficiencies
Measurement of Malnutrition
Bilateral Oedema

•Independent indicator of severe malnutrition

•Only individuals with bilateral lower limb

oedema are classified as having nutritional
oedema

Detection of Bilateral Oedema

•Apply moderate thumb pressure bilaterally

to lower extremities (just above the ankle or
on the tops of the feet) and count to 3
seconds.

•If a pit remains after the thumbs are

removed, the person has oedema
Nutrition (Anthropometric) Surveys
•help to quantify the severity of the
nutritional situation at one point in time
–which is essential to help plan and
initiate an appropriate response.

•The prevalence of malnutrition in the

6-59 month age group is used as an
indicator for nutritional status of the
entire population:
–this sub-group is more sensitive to
nutritional stress
–interventions are usually targeted to
this group
Objectives of Anthropometric Assessment
•Measure degrees of acute and chronic malnutrition
among individuals

•Identify individuals at risk of death

•Select individuals to be enrolled in a feeding

programme.

•Follow-up individuals enrolled in a feeding

programme.

•Monitor individuals’ growth

•Assess the prevalence of malnutrition in a

population
 Measuring Nutrition
(Anthropometric Measurements)

•weight
•height (or length)
•mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)
•bilateral oedema
•Age and sex should be recorded to
allow interpretation of indices
Measuring Weight
•Most sensitive indicator for changes in
nutrition

•Children:SalterScale,25kg hanging scale

graduated by100g

•Child weighed with minimum clothing

•Read the scale at eye level

•Infants: Infant weighing scale with10g

precision

•Adults: Mechanical Beam scale or

bathroom scale
Measuring Length/Height
Length for children < 85 cm
Height for children >85 cm
Body Mass Index (BMI)
•Body Mass Index = Weight (in kg)
Height squared (in m)

•assess nutritional status of adolescents

& adults

•used in both emergency and stable

contexts
EXERCISE
 Old man’s face

Thin, flaccid skin

hanging in folds

Severe wasting

MARASMUS
Hair -thinner and lighter

Moon face

No appetite

Oedema
(symmetrical oedema involving
at least the feet)

Skin lesions

KWASHIORKOR
GROUP WORK
 Key Learning:

• Able to identify Protein Calorie Malnutrition,

Micro Nutrient deficiency,

• How to conduct growth monitoring for Under 5

Years (tools are weighing scales and growth
card).

• Role of NGO and PVO in analyzing SAM and MAM