Nutrition surveillance;
Nutrition surveillance is ''a process of collecting analyzing evaluating and reporting data to see if there is any nutritional or diseases risk and to check nutritional status of that population .''
thus, nutritional surveillance is basically an systematic approach to detect malnutrition ,identify populations at risk and make delicious to improve their nutrition.
The idea of nutritional surveillance has its origin from disease surveillance, literally meaning ''to watch over nutrition, in order to make delicious that lead to improvements in their nutrition.''
decisions made are based on the information obtained during surveillance leading to policy framework, appraisal, implantation or scaleup to improve the nutritional status.
Relevant and accurate information is the first step of informed decision making across sector i.e agriculture, health, social etc. To achieve nutrition goals.
Nutrition surveillance is often used as a proactive strategy for early warming of impending nutrition and health epidemic and to achieve following distinct objectives.
1)Define the nutritional status
of population group, with special reference to vulnerable groups.
2)Interpret the underlying, relationships and select appropriate corrective actions.
3) Encourage governments to make decision which cater the needs of national development and emergency response.
4)Consolidate key performance indicators relevant to food, nutrition and health priorities.
5)Predict the evolutionary pathways or emergence of nutritional problems based on current trends of lifestyle and diet.
6)Monitor the ongoing nutrition programs and appraise their effectiveness
Data collections:
Data Collection is the first and foremost step of nutritional surveillance. Data can either be obtained from primary source or secondary source.
Primary data is gathered during different survey related to food and nutrition. if done appropriately surveys provide accurate and relevant information. However, the source of data is not always visible going to heavy coast attached to it.
Some countries do these surveys a country which help them to stay updated about changing lifestyle, food choices or dietary patterns.
Secondary data are driven from Data sources other than food and nutritional surveillance. The potential sources for secondary data include health or disease surveys, statistics market research surveys, academic research studies, household budget surveys, industry surveys etc.
Analysis and implementation:
This phase comprises of data aggregation, transformation, analysis, interpretation and conversion into meaningful information followed by policy implementation. Statistical tools are the cornerstone of successful data analysis and transform it into understandable information.
One of the key requirements for implementation is good communication skills. A surveillance coordinator with good conduct with good communication strategy and that are presentation skills is required for effective transmission of information to different users.
Evaluation;
Evaluation after successful implementation of any program efficient monitoring and evaluation are the key to harness the benefits of any intervention bearing the impact of Nutrition intervention is important not only for program manager but also political leaders in significant public funds and market for social uplift are involved.
Evaluation is two step process the first being related to intervention itself where read judgements are implemented when the program is still in progress in the second step evaluation is done to measure the success of a program in achieving specified objectives. It is important that no sustainability should be a top priority during this phase.
Usually two teams are involved in the evaluation process and assessment team and an oversight team. Assessment team need to have proper knowledge be respectful and objective in their judgement.
An oversight Team should have the ability to make decisions and must include persuasive leaders and representative of the relevant stakeholders involved in the nutritional surveillance system.
Surveillance system under normal situations:
To develop surveillance system under normal condition the following methods are recommended:
Large scale food and nutrition surveys:
In this method the surveillance system is desired to compile a list of all large scale National surveys related to food nutrition and health that could serve the basis of breaking that are down to sub regional district and village level it includes Dhs, NNS national food security surveys.
Repeated small scale surveys:
this survey use standard methods together qualitative and quantitative data at population level to identify the course extent and severity of malnutrition.
The purpose is to help policymakers to frame strategies to tackle the health and nutrition issues in that specific area full stop repeated service can either be natural surveys periodically conducted at National level or small scale survey carried out at local level to collect information related to nutrition at a suitable time.
School census data:
In schools nutritional assessment is often carried out after every 2 to 3 years to screen high risk children having malnutrition Poor health and low socioeconomic status. The results from school survey are used to revise School feeding programs or monitoring obesity in school age children.
Sentinel site surveillance:
It involves surveillance at limited localities to detect prevailing trends in the overall health and dietary practices of population groups. These sites may harbor the specific communities or may include villages having populations at risk.
Trends relating to nutritional status, morbidity, dietary issues, food security and coping strategies are monitored.
Surveillance system in emergency situations:
During an emergency data or information about vulnerable populations groups are needed rapidly. In an emergency setting additional sources of data including tarpit nutritional assessment for screening based on my comments of mid upper arm circumference are needed.
There is no universally accepted methods prescribed for nutrition surveillance in emergency. Depending upon the contact availability and feasibility a variety of information sources are often needed. The best methods rely on representative data gathered from the target population.
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