Prevalence of Acute and Moderate Malnutrition among Under Five Children in Three Counties of Western Lakes State, South Sudan

Abstract

The prevalence of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) of under-five children, in South Sudan is considerably high and is being aggravated by various internal conflicts and food insecurity ravaging the country. The situation has attracted the attention of various international organizations like World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and other international Non-governmental Organizations (INGOs), for possible interventions. However, the success of the nutrition therapy programme in reducing the prevalence of SAM and MAM among under-five children, as implemented by these humanitarian organizations is hinged on many factors. A retrospective cohort study was conducted by collecting reported data from District Health Information Software (DHIS) of SAM and MAM prevalence of under-five children across three years; 2015, 2006 and 2007 for three counties, and was analysed using SPSS. Findings revealed significant differences in SAM and MAM within counties and among counties across the three years. It was further revealed that there was rising prevalence of SAM and MAM (poor impact) among the counties as the nutrition therapy programme progressed across the three years in the three counties. It was suggested, among others, that training and re-training of health and nutrition workers, timely availability of food supplements, ensuring food security, unwavering adherence to the principle of neutrality and impartiality on the part of INGOs and government, and conduct of pre and postintervention surveys for feedbacks, may serve as the panacea towards the present unsatisfying state of the nutrition therapy programme in the war-torn Lakes State of South Sudan.