Niger

SUMMARY

The data presented, derived from various surveys that differed because on the one hand they were conducted on variable population samples and on the other in different periods of the year, do not permit a consistent and complete analysis. In Niger, as in all Sahelian countries, seasons have a significant impact not only on agricultural production, but also on the health and nutritional status of populations (especially children).

The nutriritional situation in Niger is serious. The rates of malnutrition among children are high throughout the country : over 32% are stunted – half of them severlely stunted – over 15% are wasted and over 36% are underweight. This situation is particularly worrying, as it has not improved over the last ten years. The anthropometric indicators for children clearly show that the Department of Maradi (20% wasting, 43% stunting) is most affected, followed by Zinder and Diffa. Tahoua and Agadez are third except as regards wasting. The south of Tahoua presents a different picture, and it is unfortunate that the EDS survey has coupled the two departments. Other surveys, not mentioned here, show that the nutritional status of children is better in Tahoua.

Body mass index (BMI), an anthropometric indicator used for adults, shows that the highest incidence of BMI under 8.5 kg/m 2 is found in Agadez, Diffa and Zinder, where over one third of adults are affected. In contrast, Maradi and Tahoua are the two regions best placed for this indicator ; in Maradi women are thinner than men. The departments of Dosso, Tillabéri and the urban areas of Niamey are least affected (especially children), although the incidence of wasting observed in Tillabéri is relatively high, according to the EDS survey. It should be noted that wasting is an indicator that compares weight to height without requiring knowledge of a child's age which is highly sensitive and does not enable an accurate evaluation of the long-term nutritional status. In contrast, Dosso shows the highest prevalence of Vitamin A (nearly 7% night blindness in pre-school children) and iodine deficiency (10% of goitre in adolescents). Tahoua (especially the southern part) and Maradi also have a significant prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency. These three areas, which have a good agricultural production, feature significant nutritional problems due to the quantity and/or quality of food ingested as well as to to food habits and unequal intra-household food distribution.

According to the household expenditure survey, the average per capita per day food consumption is 3,200 kcal or more in Tahoua, Maradi and Diffa. Dosso and Zinder had an availability of over 3,000 kcal. In the southern part of these departments, agricultural production is good and self-consumption relatively low as a result of monetization connected to trade with Nigeria. However, poverty there is widespread, reaching maximum rates of 65 to 70%.

In addition, numerous factors, such as the high prevalence of diarrhoeal disease, high rates of infant and child mortality (>350/1,000), very young first-delivery mothers and above all, feeding habits such as early weaning of newborns 4-5 days after birth fed on water, herbal teas and cow's milk partially explain the contradictions observed between nutritional status and food consumption, especially in Maradi. On the other hand, Agadez stands out from the rest of the country because of significant contrasts between the nutritional status of children and that of adults : children seem to be relatively less affected than adults. Food consumption is lowest there. Agadez and northern Tahoua are non-agricultural Saharian areas, basically inhabited by nomads, engaged in trade with neighbouring villages situated to the North. They are characterized by a low health coverage (the rate of infant and child mortality is 335 /1,000) and the highest consumption expenditures in the country, with nearly 60% spent on food.