SQUEAC Report Fika LGA, Yobe State, 2016

A SQUEAC assessment (Semi Quantitative Evaluation of Access and Coverage) was conducted in April 2016 in Fika LGA, Yobe state, Nigeria. This was part of a series of evaluations conducted to evaluate the work of the WINNN consortium across three states in Northern Nigeria. Of these, Action Against Hunger is implementing CMAM services across 5 health centres, in Fika LGA, Yobe state, where this assessment took place.

The quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis during stage 1 revealed a series of boosters and barriers to access, providing information on positive and negative factors to coverage. Some factors were contradictory, with the same factors acting as both positive and negative influencers to coverage. In most areas, there was some awareness of malnutrition. Respondents were able to identify malnutrition when shown photographs, however when questioned more, understanding decreased, particularly among men. There was decidedly less knowledge on the effects of malnutrition in communities, but also amongst CVs and some health workers. Disparities occured in programme awareness, with many carers of children taking part in sensitisation sessions with CVs, yet men having little knowledge of the programme.

Boosters include the positive perception of the CMAM programme, which results in peer-to-peer referrals. This links to good community cohesion, where a strong sense of community results in assistance by community members for carers to access clinics, and thus, increased referrals.