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The Nutrition Baseline Survey is a standardised methodology
providing objective data that can be used to assess, monitor and
evaluate the nutritional and/or poverty situation of a population. The
objective of many nutrition or poverty related development projects
is to improve the nutritional status and the overall living conditions
of marginalized populations. To achieve this objective, it is necessary
to determine the nature, magnitude andcauses of malnutrition and to define risk groups for adequate interventions. The Nutrition Baseline Survey combines internationally used
techniques and procedures, which have been tested in various projects,
collecting data directly from the people in the communities. Two main
methods are designed for data collection: - A standardised questionnaire which includes standardised socio-economic and health related questions, and
- Anthropometric
measurements, which include weight and physical measurement of children
and adults in order to calculate anthropometric indices for nutritional
classification.
On the basis of adequate and simple statistical tests and
standardised procedures of analysis, these methods allow the
description of nutritional problems within a population (e.g. chronic
and acute malnutrition) and the determinants of the identified
problems. Finally, the methodology provides a comparable data base for
monitoring and evaluation purposes during project implementation.
Implementing a Nutrition Baseline Survey takes several weeks or
months and requires specific skills to design and apply the
questionnaire as well as to analyse the collected data. | 
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