Kenya - Standardized Expanded Nutrition Survey 2017

The UNHCR Standardized Expanded Nutrition Surveys (SENS) provide regular nutrition data that plays a key role in delivering effective and timely interventions to ensure good nutritional outcomes among populations affected by forced displacement. UNHCR conducted an annual SENS nutrition surveys in Kakuma refugee camp and Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement. The 2017 annual Standardised Expanded Nutrition Survey (SENS) at the Kakuma Refugee Camps was conducted from 22nd November to 3rd December 2017. It was coordinated by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) with support from World Food Programme (WFP), International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Kenya Red Cross (KRC). The survey used SMART methodology and UNHCR SENS guidelines version 2 (2013) for implementation. While previous surveys indicated a steady decline in GAM prevalence between April 2010 and November 2014. There was a considerable increase in GAM prevalence in Kakuma from November 2015 and 2016. Though the difference was not statistically significant. However, in 2017 there has been a significant reduction in GAM prevalence in both Kakuma and Kalobeyei. There has also been a significant change in stunting for Kalobeyei, the same reduction was observed for Kakuma where stunting prevalence has reduced to below the 40% threshold of public health significance. Anaemia in children 6-59 months remains above the 40% threshold of public health significance for both survey areas but anaemia in women, 15-59 years was below 40%. A slight increase was observed in Kakuma while a reduction was observed in Kalobeyei. The November 2017 survey also shows an improvement in Vitamin A supplementation coverage, and water availability. Mosquito net ownership reduced for Kakuma and increased slightly in Kalobeyei. Mosquito net coverage for Kalobeyei remains far below the recommended 80% UNHCR target.