SLEAC and SQUEAC reports Katsina state and Bakori LGA, Kebbi,

Katsina is a state in North West zone of Nigeria. The WINNN (Working to Improve Nutrition in Northern Nigeria) project has been implemented in five States; Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Zamfara, and Yobe in Northern Nigeria since 2011. CMAM (Community based Management of Acute Malnutrition) is one of the components of WINNN project. In Katsina State, WINNN is implemented in three LGAs (Local Government Area) namely; Bakori, Jibia and Mai’Adua.

Since the inception of CMAM in 2013, no program coverage assessment has been conducted. WINNN partners therefore decided to conduct program coverage assessment to determine the level of met need in the areas of operation and to provide concrete recommendations in order to improve access and coverage of SAM (Severe Acute Malnutrition) treatment. SLEAC (Simplified LQAS Evaluation of Access and Coverage) methodology was used to classify coverage for each LGA, estimate overall coverage for the State and as a targeting tool for in-depth investigation and analysis in one LGA. SQUEAC (Semi Quantitative Evaluation of Access and Coverage) methodology was thereafter adopted to conduct in depth investigation and analysis of factors affecting coverage in one LGA. Bakori LGA was classified as having low coverage while Jibia and Mai’Adua LGAs classified as having moderate coverage. Chi Square test indicated that coverage was not patchy across the LGAs with overall coverage at 39% (95% CI: 33% – 45%). This is below the SPHERE standards of 50% for rural areas. The list of barriers from across the LGAs pointed towards lack of understanding how the program works despite the good program awareness reported.