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International Medical Corps (IMC): Akobo East Anthropometric and Mortality Survey Final Report,11th – 25th May, 2015

Countries
South Sudan
Sources
IMC
Publication date

Executive Summary

Introduction

Akobo County is one of the eleven Counties that make up Jonglei state. It is located in the northeastern part of the state. The area is within the Eastern Flood Plain Zone and characterized by black cotton soil. Akobo County is divided into two, Akobo West and Akobo East, IMC is only implementing its nutrition and health activities in Akobo East, therefore the survey was undertaken in this region. Akobo East has 4 Payams namely; Alali, Bilkey, Nyandit and Dengjok. The current estimated figures of Akobo East is 79,160, however the population has increased due to internally displaced people that are estimated to be 32,733 according to UNOCHA report. International Medical Corps (IMC) is running the Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) targeting both children aged between 6 and 59 months and the pregnant and lactating women in Akobo East. The CMAM program is being implemented in eight sites where two are integrated at the health facilities and the other six are community nutrition outreach program. IMC also support and run the Akobo county hospital, providing inpatient, out-patient services and surgical interventions. The last anthropometric SMART survey in the area during a similar season conducted by IMC in May 2014 showed a Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) Rate of 31.8% [26.3 ↔ 38.0, 95% C.I.] and a Severe Acute Malnutrition Rate (SAM) of 9.5% [6.9 ↔ 13.0, 95% C.I] indicating a critical nutrition situation in the area.

The major contributing factors to the poor nutrition situation include limited food availability due to insecurity coupled with flooding, poor infant and young child feeding practicing and high morbidity burden. This survey was done as part of the nutrition surveillance in Akobo East. This Nutrition Survey was funded by Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) and was conducted between 11th and 25th May, 2015. The Nutrition and Mortality SMART Survey was done in order to assess the current nutrition and mortality situation in the county, and also was also part of the on-going nutrition surveillance in Akobo East. The information and results from this survey will be utilized by various stakeholders for appropriate planning.