SECTION THREE

Proxy Global Acute Malnutrition by MUAC for Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLWs)

Definition/RATION/ALE – what does it measure? (max 2 lines)

Proxy Global acute malnutrition (GAM) by MUAC for PLWs is the prevalence, or proportion, of PLWs in a given population considered severely acutely malnourished (SAM) or moderately acutely malnourished (MAM) based on their mid-upper arm circumference measurements.

Methodology for collection – How to collect information for indicator (max 4 lines).

There are six core pieces of anthropometric information generally collected together: sex, age (months), weight, length/height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and presence of nutritional oedema. The information needed for GAM by weight-for-height include:

• • PLW Status – Self-reported status whether the woman is pregnant, breastfeeding, pregnant and breastfeeding, or none. “None” may be captured in some contexts where a survey asks about women of reproductive age (WRA), or women ages 15-49 years
• • Age – Would only be captured if you are determining if the person is a woman of reproductive age (WRA).
• • Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) – Measured in cm to the nearest 0.1cm, or in mm to the nearest 1mm. Measured with a standard adult MUAC tape at the mid-point of the upper arm while the arm is fully extended.

Methodology for analysis – How to analyse (Max 4 lines)
Visual demonstrations for thresholds
How to interpret: Urban v. rural, gender

• • Proxy GAM is determined by the proportion of PLWs either with SAM or MAM divided by the total number of PLWs. Exact MUAC cut-offs for SAM and MAM in PLWs have not been globally agreed upon, and may differ country to country . It is recommended to check with your in-country Ministry of Health or Nutrition Cluster for guidance.

Notes on indicator –
What does the indicator not tell us.
How long is it reliable for?

• • Pregnant and lactating woman are considered a nutritionally vulnerable population since they have higher caloric needs compared to other adults, hence why they are targeted for nutrition surveillance and programs.
• • The indicator does NOT directly tell you whether the cause of malnutrition is related to health or food security.
• • The indicator does NOT tell you trends in acute malnutrition over time as it is generally captured in cross-sectional surveys.

When to use it/when not to use it:

• • Often used in mass screenings to actively identify acutely malnourished children and refer them to services.
• • Used in rapid assessments to identify acutely malnourished children, either through random or exhaustive sampling.

Core: Y/N

No

IPC Categories:

2nd level outcome indicator

M&E: IMPACT, OUTCOME, OUTPUT, PROCESS

Impact/Outcome

Link to guidance

Indikit