Estimating demographic indicators in a conflict-affected population in eastern Sudan.
BACKGROUND
Although the international community currently is focused on Darfur, it is important that the status of other conflict-affected populations throughout Sudan are not overlooked. For the past decade, the Beja population, located along the Sudan-Eritrea border, has been affected by a conflict that has drawn little attention from the international community.


METHODS
This study assessed crude mortality rates and other demographic characteristics using a mortality study nested within a nutrition assessment using cluster sampling methods.


RESULTS
The crude mortality rate among the Beja population in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-controlled territories between October 2003 and October 2004 was estimated at 1.4/10,000/day (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-1.6); the under five years of age mortality rate was estimated at 2.7/10,000/day (95% CI: 2.2-3.3). Both of these are elevated rates that exceed the accepted threshold to declare a humanitarian emergency.


CONCLUSIONS
When considered with recent reports of elevated malnutrition rates, the status of Beja is critical by international standards. Study findings suggest that: (1) nesting demographic objectives into other planned assessments (such as nutrition) are a feasible and cost-effective means for non-governmental organizations to characterize beneficiary populations; and (2) the Beja residing in the NDA-controlled territories are facing elevated mortality and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Doocy
Shannon
S
Center for Refugee and Disaster Response, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21105, USA. sdoocy@jhsph.edu
Burnham
Gilbert
G
Robinson
Courtland
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014857:Warfare