Nutritional status of mauritanian children during a drought emergency

Nutritional surveys were conducted in three regions of Mauritania between September and November, 1983, to assess the impact of a severe drought and to determine priorities for relief assistance. Survey sites and children were chosen at random using established Centers for Disease Control survey methodology. A total of 1,498 children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years were weighed, measured and examined for xerophthalmia and scurvy. Information on age, sex, diarrhea, measles immunization, diet and food aid was collected for each child. Levels of acute malnutrition (< 80 % of median weight‐for‐height) ranged from 8.2 to 17.2% in the 3 regions, and both xerophthalmia and scurvy were seen. The children between 1 to 3 years of age had the highest levels of malnutrition. Food aid deliveries were irregular and inadequate in the two regions with the highest rates of malnutrition. Implications for targeting and choice of relief efforts are discussed.