World Vision Ethiopia Early Warning Unit Grants Division

WORLD VISION ETHIOPIA
EARLY WARNING UNIT
GRANTS DIVISION

RAPID NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT
CONDUCTED IN FIVE DISTRICTS.

(February 2000)

Tenta

South Wollo (Adjibar)

North Shoa (Mehal Meda) North omo (Damota)
Gera Keya Sodo zuria

Humbo

North omo (Damota)

Tseda amba

E. Tigray (Kilte Awlaelo)

April 2000
Addis Ababa

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1. Summary

A rapid nutritional assessment was conducted in five districts of World Vision Ethiopia operational areas during February 2000. The objective of the assessment was to monitor the status of acute malnutrition (wasting) in the districts, which had high prevalence of malnutrition during the November 1999, survey. The districts are located in Tigray region (Tseda amba), Amhara (Gera keya and Tenta) and Southern regional state (Humbo and Sodo zuria).
In Gera keya district, it was reported that two people died and 102 were sick of typhoid fever. As copping mechanism farmers sold live animals, migrated to adjacent areas in search of food, sold their labor, reduced frequency, quality and quantity of their meals, and consumed less preferred foods.

2. Methodology

The assessment result reveals that the highest wasting level was observed in Tseda Amba district 22.2%, Tenta 21.5%, Sodo zuria 16.7%, Gera keya 13.6% and Humbo 9.6%.
The sampling size was determined using the sampling formula (see Annex 1). Every Peasant Association was included in to the sample by randomly selected sub Peasant Associations (50% of sub Peasant Associations). In each district over 700 children were weighed and measured using sub Peasant Associations as sub cluster.
Land preparation for short cycle crop has not been started because the onset of short rain is distorted and is late by over eight weeks. It more unlikely that, the small rains will have a noticeable impact on food availability in most of the belg growing areas.
A suspended scale of 25kg capacity graduated at 0.100kg was used for weighing infants and children. Every morning the scale was checked against a known 10kg weight to match the measure with the weight. The scale was read at eye level. And the reading was taken to the nearest 0.1kg.
The availability of food and water both for human and livestock has been severely affected as a result of the extended dry spell. Consequently, the physical condition of livestock has

deteriorated.

The

weak

physical

The length of children less than five years of age was measured in a lying down position using a wooden board. Two examiners correctly positioned the condition of livestock coupled with livestock diseases affected the land preparation for short cycle crops.

subject

and

ensured

accurate

An increase in the prices of grains, low

prices of livestock exacerbated the situation of food security in these areas. Moreover, the shoot fly infestation of sweet potato in the Southern regional state would aggravate the situation in the region. measurement of length. The reading was taken to the nearest 0.5 cm. Edema was determined by applying normal thumb pressure to the foot or the legs for three seconds. If pit remains when thumb is lifted then the child has edema.

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and live animals to obtain cash income. Sale of live animals, sharing of food, daily labor and gathering of wild foods were common coping mechanisms in the area.

3. Survey Findings

3.1 Southern Regional State

(Humbo and Sodo Zuria districts) Background

The average daily wage was 3 Birr due to a great number of people looking for daily work. The frequency, quantity and quality of meals deteriorated as compared to normal times.
Damota Area Development Program operates in two districts (Humbo and Sodo Zuria) located in North Omo Zone, Southern regional state, and 420 km. south of Addis Ababa. The altitude of the area ranges form 1100-1900 m.a.s.l.. The area receives bimodal rainfall, short and major rainy seasons. The livelihood of the community is mainly derived from crop production and livestock rearing. The major crops grown in the area are maize, sweet potato, haricot bean, teff and coffee. The area is characterized by low level of productivity due to erratic rainfall.

Anthropometric Measurement

A total of 1450 children under five were measured in 54 Peasant Associations of the two districts (Humbo and Sodo zuria). According to the result 9.6% of the children in Humbo and 16.7% in Sodo Zuria were wasted. The level of wasting for both districts was high although the situation in Sodo Zuria seems more serious. In the November 99 survey, the level of wasting was 8.2% for Humbo and 6.7% for Sodo zuria.

Crop and livestock condition

(See table 1)

During the survey some farmers were preparing their farmlands for short cycle crop production and waiting for the short rains to come. Sweet potato planted in November was the only crop in the field with very low performance. It was severely attacked by shoot fly (sweet potato butterfly). Enset, the staple food of the area and coffee were wilted due to lack of water. The physical condition of livestock has also deteriorated

3.2 Amhara Regional State

(Gera Keya district)

Background

Mehal Meda Area Development Program operates in Gera Keya district, North Shoa zone located at 282 km. north of Addis Ababa. The altitude ranges from 1500 to 3000 m.a.s.l. The livelihood of the population mainly depends on agriculture. The district is drought prone area and frequently affected by famine. Moreover, the severely degraded soil and rugged terrain makes the area difficult for agricultural production. The major food crops produced in the area include barley, wheat, sorghum and oil crops. significantly over the last three months.

Health and Socio-economic condition

The major sources of food at the time of the survey were market purchase, food aid and own production, which was different from the normal time. Farmers sell firewood, charcoal, grass, cash crops

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mainly on rain fed agriculture and livestock rearing.

Socio-economic & Health Information

Relief food and food crop production were the main source of food at the time of the survey. Many household heads migrated to adjacent districts and Peasant Associations in search of employment. The frequency, quantity and quality of meals were reduced to cope with the situation. It was reported that two people died and 102 were sick of typhoid fever in February 2000. Measles cases were also reported in some Peasant Associations during the survey.
The area experiences bimodal type of rain. The fertility of the soil is very poor due to continuous erosion. Land preparation for short cycle crop production was not started during the time of the survey.

The physical condition of livestock has deteriorated due to lack of pasture and water.

A total of 748 children under five were measured in 26 Peasant Associations of the district. According to the survey result 13.6% of the children wasted, which was above the cut-off point (10%).
A total of 703 children under five were measured in 22 Peasant Associations of Tenta district. The result reveals that the prevalence of wasting was 21.5%, much higher than the cut-off point (10%). It was 23% during November 99 survey. The level of wasting or acute malnutrition remained very high and critical since November 1998 in the district.
The result varies with agrocological zones in the Area Development Program. In the lowland the status of acute malnutrition was higher 16.1% and relatively lower in the mid-highland 12%. The lowland areas were seriously affected because of lack of access to relief food

3.3 Tigray Regional State

Tseda Amba district

Background

Tenta district

Tseda Amba district is located in Eastern Tigray, 870 km North of Addis Ababa. The project area lies within an altitude ranging from 2040 to 3000 m.a.s.l. It has two climatic zones: highland and mid highland. The total annual rainfall of the area does not exceed 500mm. The main source of livelihood is mixed agriculture. The Major crops grown in the area include barley, wheat & beans.

Background

Adjibar Area Development Program is located in Amhara Regional State, South Wollo Administrative zone, and Tenta district. It is 644 km north of Addis

Ababa. Tenta district has

a

total

population of over 167,504. The altitude falls between 1500 and 4000 m.a.s.l. The livelihood of the community depends

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A total of 788 children aged 6 to 59 months were weighed and measured in 17 Peasant Associations of Tseda Amba district. According to the survey result, wasting was 22.2%. The level of wasting was much higher than the cut-off point (10%). It was 22.6% during November 1999 survey.

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report

No disease outbreak was reported however, there were 53 marasmus and 7 kwashiorkor cases identified during the survey.

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4. CONCLUSION

the

During November 1999 survey, the four Area Development Programs (Kilte Awlaelo, Adjibar, Mehal Meda and Damota) were identified as critically drought-affected areas. The rapid assessment also confirmed that these areas are under disaster situation.

district

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Availability of food and water both for human and livestock has declined. An increase in the prices of grains and relatively low livestock prices resulted in low terms of trade. The nutritional status of children has deteriorated. Above all, the shoot fly infestation of sweet potato in Damota Area Development Program would aggravate the food crisis situation

The weak physical condition of the livestock and occurrence of diseases negatively affected land preparation for the short rainy season. In some areas like Tseda Amba, people are coping with the situation through migration to nearby districts and Peasant Associations in search of food and selling their daily labor. Seasonal migration to other areas for the same purpose was also observed in Humbo district. An immediate response is anticipated from donors and other agencies to save lives of the victims.

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Annex 1 Sampling formula

The formula to find ‘n’ is N = Z²(P(1-P)

D²

Z = is the error risk and acceptable at 5% (transformed to values 1.96 or 2). This is constant. P = is predictive prevalence value depending on current approximation or latest data.
(20% was used)
D = is absolute precision (3% was used but it could be 1 or 2), the greater the precision the larger the sample size.

N = population

The size of the sample is not dependent on population, but if the sample size approaches the population a correction factor may be applied. In our case there was no need to adjust the “n” because the population size is a lot smaller than the <5 population.

Fig. 9 Nutritional status (w a sting) of children under five at four ADPs from
N o v 9 8 t o F e b 2 0 0 0

2 5 2 0 1 5 1 0
50

Tenta

Ts.Am ba*

Hum bo

Sodo Zuria

Gera keya

Districts

Nov.98

M a y - 9 9

Nov.99

Feb-00