The use of epidemiological tools in conflict-affected populations: open-access educational resources for policy-makers

Table of Contents

1. Welcome
2. Introduction: Epidemiology in crises
3. Ethical issues in data collection
4. Need for epidemiologic competence
5. Surveys - Introduction
6. Surveys - Description of sampling methods
7. Surveys - Sampling error, bias, accuracy, precision, & sample size
8. Surveys - Resources required for surveys
9. Surveys - Critiquing survey reports
10. Surveillance - When to do surveillance
11. Surveillance - Methods
12. Surveillance - Common problems
13. Programme data
14. Rapid assessment
15. Mortality - Indicators and their measurement
16. Mortality - Data sources
17. Mortality - Interpretation and action
18. Nutrition - Introduction and background
19. Nutrition - Indicators and their measurement
20. Nutrition - Data sources
21. Nutrition - Interpretation and action
    1. Factors in interpreting data on acute protein-energy malnutrition
    2. Prevalence of acute protein-energy malnutrition
    3. Trends over time
    4. Underlying causes
    5. Malnutrition and mortality
    6. Interventions for acute PEM
    7. Interpreting results of micronutrient assessment
    8. Interventions for micronutrient deficiencies
22. Health services
23. Vaccination programmes
24. Water supply, sanitation, and shelter
25. Violence
26. Presentation of results
27. Formulating conclusions and recommendations
28. Dissemination and action

Factors in interpreting data on acute protein-energy malnutrition

(go to Outline)

Once nutrition data are collected, they need to be interpreted in order to take appropriate action. This can often be the most difficult part of an assessment. Nutrition data should be reviewed from the following perspectives:

• Actual prevalence rates of acute protein-energy malnutrition in relation to thresholds and decision-making frameworks.
• Trends over time and seasonal changes in the prevalence of malnutrition as well as major risk factors.
• Underlying causes, such as food insecurity, caring practices, and public health status.
• The relationship between malnutrition and mortality.

For a more complete discussion of interpreting nutrition data to make program decisions, see chapter 5 in The Meaning and Measurement of Acute Malnutrition in Emergencies: A Primer for Decision-Makers. Humanitarian Practice Network 2006. (Click here to open document.)