Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 13

Now that you have completed the study session, you can assess how well you have achieved its Learning Outcomes by answering these questions. Write your answers on your Study Diary and discuss them with your Tutor at the next study support meeting. You can check your answers with the Note on the Self-Assessment Questions at the end of the Module.

SAQ 13.1 (tests Learning Outcome 13.3)

Why is the routine service data you collect regularly so important?

Answer

The routine service data you collect is important because it can be fed into Ethiopia’s NIS. It will also help you understand the nutrition situation in your community and help you to make local decisions.

SAQ 13.2 (tests Learning Outcomes 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3)

What is the NIS and how does it contribute to solving Ethiopia’s food problems?

Answer

The NIS is a system of continuous collection, analysis and interpretation of data about nutrition. It can be used to detect malnutrition epidemics, identify trends, make decisions about interventions and monitor programmes.

SAQ 13.3 (tests Learning Outcomes 13.4 and 13.5)

When and how, during your work in the community, can you gather information about key nutrition indicators?

Answer

You can gather data from a number of sources including from the community-based nutrition programme, the therapeutic feeding programme and community health days.

SAQ 13.4 (test Learning Outcomes 13.4 and 13.5)

  • a.What kind of indicators can be generated during child health days?
  • b.How can this data be useful for the NIS?

Answer

  • a.The data you record at child health days can tell you the prevalence of severe underweight children in your community and can also be used by the NIS to measure national growth performance.
  • b.SAM data can be used by NIS as an emergency warning sign, the percentage with MAM can show the effects of supplementary programmes and all the information will add generally to information about trends and seasonality. Community Health Days can generate indicators related to the prevalence of SAM and MAM, de-worming coverage, vitamin A coverage, and iodised salt coverage.

SAQ 13.5 (tests Learning Outcome 13.5)

Summarise the kinds of data you need to record and report regularly.

Answer

You should regularly record data related to the weight of children, the success of the therapeutic feeding programme, the numbers of pregnant and lactating women. You also need to record information about children under five and treatments they have received.

Summary of Study Session 13