Chapter 1 Introduction

Nutrition and food security surveys provide the information from which to assess the nutritional and food security status of a population. This document provides guidance on specific aspects of conducting nutrition and food security surveys. Chapter 2 to 7 focus on the various anthropometric measurements performed during nutrition surveys. Chapter 2 first describes two forms of undernutrition - acute undernutrition and chronic undernutrition - and then explains each including the signs and symptoms associated and the anthropometric indices used to diagnose them. Chapter 3, 4, 5, and 6 describes the equipment needed, the personnel required and the steps to undertake in performing weight, height, MUAC and oedema measurements respectively. Chapter 7 then discusses how survey personnel can be assessed as to their abilities to perform the various anthropometric measurements through a standardisation test.

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