Acute malnutrition for older people
Prevalence rate (%) of older people with a MUAC below 210mm or having bilateral pitting oedema
Unit Description
Percentage
Numerator
Number of older people that meet the criteria for acute malnutrition
Denominator
Total number of older people surveyed
Disaggregation
Geographical area, sex: in preparatory, Phase III and IV, disaggregate by severity (<185mm and between 185 and 209mm)
Indicator used for response monitoring ?
Yes
Types
Baseline
Outcome
Threshold / Standard
MUAC >210mm: no malnutrition; MAM: MUAC <210mm SAM: MUAC<185mm or oedema (Help Age guidelines 2013)
General guidance
Rapid assessment methods can be used at any phase.
The questionnaire should include questions about socio-economic status, health, household food security, water and sanitation.
The questionnaire should include questions about socio-economic status, health, household food security, water and sanitation.
Guidance on phases
In preparatory phase as well as phases I and II: use rapid assessment methods
In phases III and IV, organize surveys with larger samples or use rapid assessment method, with multi-indicator questionnaire
In phases III and IV, organize surveys with larger samples or use rapid assessment method, with multi-indicator questionnaire
Phase applicability
Pre-crisis/Baseline
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
Guidance for pre-crisis/baseline
In preparatory phase,:
Collect baseline demographic data about the percentage of people 50 and above (or 60 and above) disaggregated by sex and by age groups of 5 years (50-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-80, 80 and above)
Assess household food security
Organize focus group discussions with older people to have an idea of their access to food.
Collect baseline demographic data about the percentage of people 50 and above (or 60 and above) disaggregated by sex and by age groups of 5 years (50-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-80, 80 and above)
Assess household food security
Organize focus group discussions with older people to have an idea of their access to food.
Data Sources
surveys: rapid assessments
Comments
older people are defined as "people aged 60 and above" (UN definition), but in some contexts (e.g. Somali, Ethiopia, Sudan etc.), can be 50 and above (as people are considered "old" from this age); Note: Nutritional oedema in older people may be difficult to distinguish from other types of oedema, so suggestion to separate BMI and oedema cases if necessary. Data on acute malnutrition rate should be compared by sex in order to identify any specific discrimination elderly women and elderly men might face in accessing nutrition. In case there is an important difference between the percentage of elderly women and the percentage of elderly men suffering from acute malnutrition, the programme should address these gaps by undertaking a gender analysis of the specific challenges the disadvantaged group is facing, including an analysis of the socio cultural habits and beliefs as well as on the social and family support networks available to them that might differ, hence impacting differently their nutritional well being.