Report Writing

Food and Nutrition Surveillance and Response in Emergencies Session 14 Data Presentation, Dissemination and Use

SESSION OBJECTIVES • Describe the survey report format and dissemination of results • Discuss the uses of nutrition information

REPORTWRITING The report should include the most relevant information. • Tables, Graphs, diagrams or map can save a lot of text and is easier to understand. • Title Page (Report title, date, organization) • Table of contents: Section headings with page numbers • Acknowledgement: All those involved in the survey, e.g. Communities, partners, team members

1. Summary • This should be a short version of the report and should be written last to highlight on : • area surveyed • date of the survey • objectives of the survey • methodology used • main anthropometric results, morbidity, food security indicators, mortality etc • explanation of causes of malnutrition in the area • recommendations

2. Introduction • context in which the survey was carried out • population surveyed: population figures (total and < 5 years) ethnic group, livelihood of the population • date of the survey • which geographic area • add a map

3. Objectives of the survey The objectives are based on the questions the survey intends to answer. Example • determine the nutritional status of children aged 659 months or 65-110 cm ht/length using weight for height. • determine immunisation coverage of measles and polio vaccination and vitamin A supplementation • establish factors influencing child nutrition in relation to care practices, food security, health and water situation • estimate under five and crude mortality rates in the last 3 months prior to the survey • provide recommendations for future interventions based on the findings

4. Background Information

• general information (geographic character of the area, socio-economic activities) • food security overview • health overview • nutrition overview • programmes/ interventions in the area

5. Methodology Present a detail account of all the methods used • Sampling methodology • Survey subjects • Sample size and parameters used • Variables measured and recording information • Measuring techniques • Nutrition indices used • Cut off points • Composition of the teams • Training of the survey teams • Collection of qualitative data

6. Results • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Household characteristics Food and income sources Water and sanitation Disease prevalence Distribution of the sample, according to age and sex Mode of expression of the indices Definition of grades of malnutrition Distribution according to the indices, age and sex Malnutrition rates with confidence interval Risk factors in relation to malnutrition CMR and mortality rates and cut offs Possible causes of mortality Qualitative info. on other factors e.g health,food security,publichealth etc

8.Discussions Discussions should be centered around Nutritional status in relation to other variables • Compare prevalence of acute malnutrition with previous survey reports • How do results compare with international standards • Income sources & coping strategies compared to a normal year • Current food situation compared to a normal year and possible effect on the nutritional status

• Vaccination and Vit A coverage compared to international standards • What are caring practices is there a possibility of affecting the nutritional status. • Health care and its relationship with the nutritional status • Any possible effects of morbidity on the nutritional status. • Explain the current nutrition situation and factors influencing it • How severe are the problems • How are people coping • Make predictions • Based on findings provide recommendations

9. Recommendations The recommendations are based on findings. Depending on the situation, recommendations can be divided into: • Short-term interventions • Medium to long term interventions

10. DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS • Preliminary results should be shared with partners at the community level: – explain clearly the nutrition situation in the area and get comments and views – This provides an opening for more comprehensive and longer term community based analysis of issues – Make no promises. – Share draft report with partners to get comments

• Make oral briefing to partners and donors at various forums e.g. workshop or meetings. – The briefing should be brief and clear outlining the summary of the report. – Allow enough time for discussion.

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Disseminate final report to partners, donors, academic and research institutions.