Nutrition Assessment and Survey using ENA EPIINFO Course

Introduction

Nutrition assessment is a critical component of public health and humanitarian programming, enabling stakeholders to identify malnutrition, evaluate population health, and design effective interventions. The Nutrition Assessment and Survey Using ENA and EpiInfo Course is designed to build practical skills in planning, conducting, and analyzing nutrition surveys using internationally recognized tools Emergency Nutrition Assessment (ENA) for SMART and EpiInfo. This course provides a hands-on approach to mastering the technical and analytical aspects of nutrition surveillance.

Participants will be introduced to the SMART (Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions) methodology, which provides a standardized framework for conducting high-quality nutrition surveys. The course emphasizes the use of ENA for SMART software for designing surveys, managing anthropometric data, and calculating key nutrition indicators such as global acute malnutrition (GAM), stunting, and underweight prevalence. Learners will also gain proficiency in EpiInfo, a powerful software suite used for data entry, statistical analysis, and epidemiological reporting.

Through real-life case studies, interactive exercises, and simulations, participants will learn how to apply best practices in sampling design, data collection, quality assurance, and interpretation of findings. Special attention is given to ethical considerations, field coordination, and communicating results for decision-making in both emergency and development contexts.

By the end of the course, participants will have the knowledge and confidence to lead or contribute effectively to nutrition assessments and surveys. They will be able to generate accurate, reliable data to inform programming, policy development, and resource allocation, ultimately contributing to improved nutritional outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Duration

5 days

Course Objectives

By the end of this course the learners should be able to:

·       Understand the principles and objectives of nutrition assessment and its role in public health and humanitarian programming.

·       Apply the SMART (Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions) methodology for designing and conducting nutrition surveys.

·       Use ENA for SMART software to plan surveys, manage anthropometric data, and generate key nutrition indicators.

·       Utilize EpiInfo for creating data entry forms, performing statistical analysis, and generating epidemiological reports.

·       Design appropriate sampling methods, including simple random, systematic, and cluster sampling techniques for nutrition surveys.

·       Collect, clean, and manage high-quality anthropometric and mortality data in field settings.

·       Interpret and analyze nutrition data to determine the prevalence of acute malnutrition, stunting, underweight, and other key health indicators.

·       Ensure data quality through validation checks, standardization tests, and best practices in field supervision.

·       Prepare and present nutrition survey reports that are clear, accurate, and actionable for stakeholders and decision-makers.

·       Adhere to ethical standards and best practices in conducting nutrition assessments, including informed consent and data confidentiality.

Who should Attend?

This course is ideal for

·       Nutritionists and public health officers working in NGOs, UN agencies, and government health departments

·       Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) specialists involved in health and nutrition programs

·       Epidemiologists and health researchers conducting field surveys and assessments

·       Program managers and field coordinators overseeing nutrition interventions

·       Data analysts and information management officers in humanitarian or development settings

·       Health and nutrition consultants involved in survey design, analysis, and reporting

Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Nutrition Assessment and Surveys

• Definitions and key concepts
• Purpose and objectives of nutrition assessments
• Types and methods of nutrition assessment (anthropometry, clinical, dietary, biochemical)
• Global classifications of malnutrition: acute, chronic, underweight, and micronutrient deficiencies
• Introduction to SMART methodology
• Overview of nutrition indicators (GAM, SAM, stunting, underweight, MUAC)
• Ethical considerations and informed consent in field surveys

Module 2: Survey Design and Field Preparation

• Defining survey objectives and target populations
• Survey design: cross-sectional vs. longitudinal
• Sampling techniques: simple random, systematic, cluster sampling
• Sample size determination using ENA for SMART
• Survey team roles and responsibilities
• Field logistics and planning checklist
• Enumerator training and anthropometry standardization exercises

Module 3: ENA for SMART Software – Design, Data Collection, and Analysis

• Installation and interface navigation of ENA for SMART
• Planning a survey and calculating sample size
• Cluster selection and survey mapping
• Setting up anthropometric data collection in ENA
• Data entry, plausibility checks, and cleaning
• Generating anthropometric indices (WHZ, HAZ, WAZ)
• Automatic generation of quality reports and nutrition indicators
• Interpreting flags and outliers
• Exporting data to other formats (Excel, CSV, EpiInfo)

Module 4: EpiInfo Software for Nutrition Surveys

• Introduction and installation of EpiInfo
• Creating digital questionnaires (Form Designer)
• Building skip logic and validations
• Data entry and data management
• Calculating anthropometric Z-scores and nutritional indicators
• Basic to intermediate statistical analysis (e.g., frequencies, cross-tabulations, confidence intervals)
• Reading and writing different data formats (CSV, Excel, .rec)
• Custom reports and data visualization
• Importing/exporting between ENA and EpiInfo

Module 5: Integration and Advanced Use of ENA and EpiInfo

• Workflow comparison and complementary roles of ENA and EpiInfo
• Creating surveys from scratch and using templates
• Importing and cleaning data from other platforms (ODK, KoboToolbox)
• Advanced settings and customization
• Automatic generation of graphs, tables, and reports
• Creating composite indicators and trend analysis

Module 6: Data Quality Assurance and Error Minimization

• Common data quality issues and how to detect them
• Using plausibility checks and standard deviation ranges
• Standardization tests and intra-/inter-observer reliability
• Backup, encryption, and secure data storage
• Quality control protocols during data collection and entry
• Interpreting data quality reports in ENA and EpiInfo

Module 7: Analysis, Interpretation, and Reporting of Nutrition Survey Results

• Key steps in data analysis and interpretation
• Classifying malnutrition using WHO and SMART thresholds
• Mortality rate calculation and interpretation
• Writing evidence-based conclusions and actionable recommendations
• Developing summary dashboards and infographics
• Presenting findings to technical and non-technical audiences
• Advocacy and use of findings for decision-making and program planning

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808

Terms of Payment

Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.