In 2023, a SMART survey was conducted in the flood-affected districts of Sylhet Division, Bangladesh, to address the lack of recent district-specific nutrition data. While the Bangladesh Health Demography Survey (BDHS) 2022 and the 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) provide divisional insights, they overlook significant district-level disparities, especially as Sylhet has the highest malnutrition rate in the country. The 2022 BDHS found the highest Malnutrition rates in the Sylhet division, classifying the situation as “Very High or Critical.” However, this data is insufficient for comprehensive understanding at the district level.
Given Sylhet's vulnerability to disasters, it's crucial to assess nutrition and food security at both district and union levels. Nutrition cluster partners require this data for disaster preparedness and resource mobilization. The survey, endorsed by the National Nutrition Service (NNS), aims to assess the nutritional status of children aged 6–59 months and pregnant and lactating women and highlight district-level disparities.
