Community needs assessment.

• Community needs assessment: is evaluating the community:

1. Health.
2. Nutrition status.
3. Needs ( of community ).
4. Resources available to address those needs.
Triggers for community needs assessment:
1. Need for new data due to outdated or missing data about health &
nutritional status of the community.
2. Mandate from federal agency.
3. Research findings.
4. Raise awareness in community.
5. Availability of funds.
Steps in community needs assessment:
1. Define the nutritional problem – statement.
2. Set parameters of assessment.
• Define community.
• Determine purpose of assessment.
• Set goals and objectives.
• Specify types of data needed.
3. Collect data about:
- community:
• Qualitative data from key informants (interviews).
• Quantitative data from vital statistics, hospital records, health
surveys.
- Community health.
- Community organizational power & structures.
- Demographic data and trends.
- Economic data and trends.
- Existing community services & programs.
- Socio-cultural data & trends.
3) Types of data to collect about the community

Figure 4-2
Steps in community nutrition assessment:
4. Analyze and interpret data.
- Merge data.
- Make diagnosis from data.
- Summarize problem & determine key points.
5. Share findings of assessment:
- Results are useful to other agencies & organizations.
- Prevents duplication of efforts.
- Enables more than one agency to address problem.
- Be sure key stakeholders are informed before the release of information.
6. Set priorities:
- Involves who is to get what at whose expense.
- You want the best health outcome.
- Limited resources; decisions are based on priorities.
7. Choose a plan of action:
- Key findings shared with community leaders.
- Advocate for change.
- Make information available to the public.
- Develop new program or pilot intervention.