Baseline evaluation · July 2021
Baseline Evaluation of the Integrated Health and Nutrition Project.
Evidence on nutrition, education, protection and sexual and reproductive health in Rimi and Sandamu LGAs, Katsina State.
Overview
A baseline for integrated support to adolescent girls and their children.
The evaluation documents conditions affecting adolescent girls and children across ten communities in Rimi and Sandamu. It establishes baseline evidence for interventions spanning nutrition, learning, protection, agency and access to sexual and reproductive health services.
The study was designed to support programme monitoring, evaluation and advocacy by identifying context-specific needs and establishing reference values for key outcome indicators.
Key findings
Progress and persistent gaps appear across all four programme areas.
Nutrition risks remain
Acute malnutrition by MUAC among assessed children was estimated at 7.9%, while 11% of pregnant and lactating adolescent mothers and girls had MUAC below 221 mm.
Learning confidence is strong
Most adolescent girls demonstrated confidence in learning, although enrolment in community learning groups remained limited.
Protection pathways are uneven
Only four in ten girls reported a nearby place where children could seek help following abuse or after running away from home.
SRH access needs strengthening
Health workers called for confidential, adolescent-responsive services, more equipment and continued training and outreach.
Selected indicators
Headline results from the baseline.
Disability
12%of adolescent girls reported difficulty with at least one universal activity or function.Dietary diversity
48%of assessed pregnant and lactating adolescent mothers and girls met the minimum dietary diversity criterion.Community learning
25%of adolescent girls reported enrolment in a community learning group.Learning confidence
87%of adolescent girls exhibited improved confidence in learning.Protection access
40%reported a place in or near their community where children could seek support after abuse.Modern contraception
58%of married adolescents reported using a modern contraceptive method.These indicators reflect the baseline sample and should be interpreted alongside the report's methodology, qualitative findings and limitations.
Methodology
Representative household data supported by qualitative enquiry.
The mixed-methods study combined household surveys with adolescent girls and caregivers, anthropometric assessment of children, key-informant interviews with health workers and school leadership, and focus group discussions with parents and adolescent girls.
Households were randomly selected across ten communities. Quantitative data were collected using ODK mobile tools, while qualitative interviews and group discussions were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically.
- Rimi: Majen Gobir, Rimi, Iyatawa, Masabo/Kurabau and Sabongari
- Sandamu: Karkarku, Sandamu A, Kwasarawa, Fago A and Daneji A
- Fieldwork was completed over seven days in July 2021