Anthropometric study in West Darfur

West Darfur is hot, dry and dusty in September. Low-lying houses are spread across the dark, flat surface of its capital, El Geneina. The rainy season has ended. Each year at this time, since 2005, an annual study of nutrition and food security has been conducted for the Sudan Ministry of Health.

Twenty-four Ministry of Health received training to collect data on children’s health and nutrition and to undertake anthropometric measurements to assess the levels of malnutrition.

Data collection will occur for the first two weeks in October 2009 in the areas of Azerni, Sanidadi and Um Tajok, after which qualified staff in the Ministry will undertake data entry, expected to take a week. By late October I’ll receive the data to analyse and write the report for the Global Relief Alliance and the Sudan Ministry of Health. The data comprises four surveys: (1) food security and household questionnaire; (2) mortality questionnaire; (3) breast feeding questionnaire; and (4) anthropometric measurements for children between 6 and 59 months of age.

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