DISCLAIMER: please note that this IPC Acute Malnutrition analysis was integrated with an IPC Acute Food Insecurity analysis referring to the same period. Please click here.

How Severe, How Many and When – A total of 860, 000 children are likely to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2019 based on the results of the SMART nutrition surveys, Food Security and Nutrition Monitoring System (FSNMS) and admission trends for 2018.

Where – 42 counties are classified as Serious (IPC Acute Malnutrition Phase 3) and above. The counties of Akobo, Ayod, Canal Pigi, Pibor, Duk, Uror (former Jonglei); Abiemnhom, Panyijar and Pariang (former Unity); Twic (former Warrap); and Awerial (former Lakes) are classified as Critical (IPC Acute Malnutrition Phase 4). No county was classified as Extremely Critical (IPC Acute Malnutrition Phase 5). However, further deterioration is expected in the projection period (lean season) of May-August 2019 with more than 55 counties classified as Serious 4 (IPC Acute Malnutrition Phase 3) and above, therefore requiring urgent and targeted response.

Why – The major factors contributing to acute malnutrition include insufficient availability of food, very poor quality and diversity of food, relatively high prevalence of diseases6 and poor child care practices. Elevated level of food insecurity (IPC AFI phase 3 and above) in some counties also contribute to acute malnutrition. Additionally, reduced access to food, nutrition and health services linked to conflict including inter communal conflict in some counties is also aggravating the levels of acute malnutrition. 

Population Estimates for January - December 2019

Continued scale up of treatment of acute malnutrition targeting the current and future caseload is a high priority. Further expansion of services to previously insecure areas for both treatment of severe acute malnutrition is also important to reach the less accessible areas. The parallel expansion of nutrition services for both severe and moderate acute malnutrition will ensure continuity of care through seamless referral mechanisms across the different treatment programmes for children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).

While ensuring universal treatment for acute malnutrition is a priority, attention must also be given to addressing other factors identified as major contributing factors to acute malnutrition to prevent acute malnutrition in the future. The prevention efforts should focus on child care practices including improving quality of food consumed by children and treatment and prevention of childhood illness. Support access to fresh food to vulnerable households, including children and pregnant and lactating mothers. It is recommended that a response analysis involving all nutrition, health, food security, as well as WASH stakeholders in the country be carried out to identify appropriate interventions to address acute malnutrition. This response analysis may initially focus on the Greater Upper Nile and Warrap and Northern Bahr El Ghazel which have relatively elevated levels of acute malnutrition but ideally should be done for all regions. It is also recommended that resource mobilization efforts be scaled up to address treatment and prevention of malnutrition as well as sustaining the gains already made in combating malnutrition.