Nutrition Landscape Information System (NLiS)


Ghana

NLiS Country Profile: Ghana

Child Malnutrition

Child (<5 y) Anthropometry
Indicator Year Value
Low birth weight (<2500 g) (%) 2015 14.2
Overweight (BMI-for-age >+1 SD) in school-age children and adolescents 5-19 years (%) 2016 10.7

Malnutrition in Women

Female malnutrition based on BMI

Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies

Indicator Year Value
Anaemia children <5 y (Hb <110 g/L) (%) 2016 66.9
Anaemia in non-pregnant women (Hb <120 g/L) (%) 2016 45.7
Anaemia in pregnant women (Hb <110 g/L) (%) 2016 54.3
Anaemia in women of reproductive age (%) 2016 46.4
Clinical vitamin A deficiency in women (history of night blindness during most recent pregnancy) (%) 2003 7.7
Median urinary iodine concentration in children 6-12 years (μg/L)   no data
Subclinical vitamin A deficiency in preschool-age children (serum/plasma retinol <0.70 μmol/L) (%)   no data

Health Services

Indicator Year Value
Births attended by skilled health personnel (%) 2014 70.8
Population using improved drinking-water sources (%) 2015 88.7
Population using improved sanitation facility (%) 2015 14.9
Children aged 1 year immunized against measles (%) 2016 89.0
Any antenatal iron supplementation (%) 2014 92.2
Children <5 years with diarrhoea receiving ORT (%) 2011 58.5
Children with diarrhoea receiving zinc (%) 2014 7.4
Children aged 6-59 months receiving vitamin A supplements (dose 1) (%) 2017 50.0
Children aged 6-59 months receiving vitamin A supplements (dose 2) (%) 2017 50.0
Births in baby-friendly facilities (%) 2016 0.0
Mothers of children 0-23 months receiving counselling, support or messages on optimal breastfeeding at least once in the last year (%)   no data

Food Security

Indicator Year Value
Households consuming adequately iodized salt (15 parts per million or more) (%) 2015 63.9
Population below the international poverty line (%) 2016 13.3

Caring Practices

Indicator Year Value
Early initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth (%) 2014 55.6
Introduction to solid, semi-solid or soft foods in infants 6-8 months (%) 2014 73.1
Minimum acceptable diet (MAD) in children 6-23 months (%) 2014 13.3
Children with diarrhoea <5 y receiving oral rehydration therapy (ORT) and continued feeding (%) 2014 41.5
No breastfeeding data available for this country

Commitment

Indicator Year Value
General government expenditure on health as % of total government expenditure 2014 6.8
Total expenditure on health as % of gross domestic product 2014 3.6
Per capita total expenditure on health (US$) 2014 145.4
Nutrition component of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2006-2010 Medium
Nutrition component of Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) 2006-2009 Weak
Nutrition Governance score 2009 Weak
Maternity leave 2013 12 weeks
International Code on Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes: Legal status of the Code 2018 Full provisions in law

Capacity

Indicator Year Value
Degree training in nutrition exists 2016-2017 Yes
Nutrition is part of medical curricula 2016-2017 Yes
Nutrition professionals density (per 100,000 population)   no data
Nursing and midwifery personnel density per 1,000 population 2010 0.9
GDP per capita (PPP US$) 2018 4,738
GDP per capita annual growth rate (%)   no data
Official development assistance (ODA) received (net disbursements) (% of GNI) 2017 2.2
Low-Income Food-Deficit Country (LIFDC) 2018 Yes

Meta-indicators

Indicator Year Value
Averaged aggregate governance indicators 2018 0
Gender Inequality Index (GII) 2017 0.538
Gender Parity Index in primary level enrolment (ratio of girls to boys) 2018 1
Human development index (HDI) value 2017 0.6
Seats held by women in national parliament (%) 2019 13.1

Female Education Levels

Female Education Levels 2016

Education

Education

Under 5 Mortality

Policies & Actions in the Global database on the Implementation of Nutrition Action (GINA)

Policy title Start Year
National Nutrition Policy 2014-2017 2014
Health Sector Medium Term Development Plan 2014-2017 2014
Strategy for the Management, Prevention and Control of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases in Ghana 2012
Medium-Term Development Policy Framework, Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA, 2010-2013) 2010
Health Sector Medium Term Plan 2010
Under Five's Child Health Policy 2007-2015 2007
Creating Wealth through Health 2007
Infant and Young Child Feeding Strategy for Ghana 2007
National Health Policy: Creating Wealth Through Health 2007
Child Health Policy 2007
Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRSII) 2006
Imagine Ghana Free of Malnutrition 2005
Labour Act 2003
Integrated Anaemia Control Strategy 2003
National Reproductive Health Service Policy and Standards 2003
Breastfeeding Promotion Regulations 2000, LI1667 2000
Vitamin A Policy 1998
Breastfeeding Promotion Regulations 1995
Food and Drug Law and Amendments:Universal Salt Iodisation 1995
National Plan of Action on Food and Nutrition 1995
Food and Drugs Act. 199 1992
Regenerative health and nutrition-program  
Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy  
Progamme title and actions Start Year
GNPR 2016-2017: Promotion of healthy diet and prevention of obesity and diet-related NCDs (q20) Good Life Live it Well (Nutrition and Health) - Media promotion of healthy nutrition 2016
GNPR 2016-2017: School health and nutrition (q11) School Health Policy - Deworming 2012
GNPR 2016-2017: School health and nutrition (q11) School Health Policy - Extracurricular nutrition education 2012
GNPR 2016-2017: School health and nutrition (q11) School Health Policy - Micronutrient supplementation in schools 2012
GNPR 2016-2017: School health and nutrition (q11) School Health Policy - Monitoring children's growth in schools 2012
GNPR 2016-2017: School health and nutrition (q11) School Health Policy - Nutrition education included in school curriculum 2012
GNPR 2016-2017: School health and nutrition (q11) School Health Policy - School feeding programmes 2012
Reducing Maternal and Child Undernutrition - Management of severe acute malnutrition 2012
Feed the Future: The U.S. Government’s Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative - Management of severe acute malnutrition 2011
Feed the Future: The U.S. Government’s Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative - Promotion of food security and agriculture 2011
Feed the Future: The U.S. Government’s Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative - Promotion of household food security 2011
The Leyaata (“Rescue Us”) Project to Reduce Maternal, Infant and Child Mortality - Distribution of insecticide-treated bednets 2011
GAIN Nutritious Foods for Mothers and Children - Complementary food fortification 2010
Assistance to Ghanaian Food-Insecure Households in Northern Ghana - Food distribution/supplementation for prevention of acute malnutrition 2010
Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project - Complementary feeding promotion and/or counselling 2010
Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project - Deworming 2010
Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project - Distribution of insecticide-treated bednets 2010
Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project - Food distribution/supplementation for prevention of acute malnutrition 2010
Integrated Malnutrition, HIV/AIDS & TB (IMHAT) Prevention and Control Project - Breastfeeding promotion and/or counselling 2009
Integrated Malnutrition, HIV/AIDS & TB (IMHAT) Prevention and Control Project - Complementary feeding promotion and/or counselling 2009
Integrated Malnutrition, HIV/AIDS & TB (IMHAT) Prevention and Control Project - Distribution of insecticide-treated bednets 2009
Integrated Malnutrition, HIV/AIDS & TB (IMHAT) Prevention and Control Project - Growth monitoring and promotion 2009
Integrated Malnutrition, HIV/AIDS & TB (IMHAT) Prevention and Control Project - Management of moderate malnutrition 2009
Integrated Malnutrition, HIV/AIDS & TB (IMHAT) Prevention and Control Project - Oral rehydration solution promotion 2009
Integrated Malnutrition, HIV/AIDS & TB (IMHAT) Prevention and Control Project - Preventive malaria treatment 2009
Integrated Malnutrition, HIV/AIDS & TB (IMHAT) Prevention and Control Project - Vaccination 2009
Integrated Malnutrition, HIV/AIDS & TB (IMHAT) Prevention and Control Project - Vitamin A supplementation 2009
Food Security and Environment Facility - Promotion of food security and agriculture 2008
GAIN Universal Salt Iodization - Salt iodization 2008
GAIN Large-scale Food Fortification Program - Oil fortification 2002
GAIN Large-scale Food Fortification Program - Wheat flour fortification 2002
Iodin deficiency disorders control programme - Salt iodization 1996
Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme - Salt iodization 1996
GNPR 2016-2017: Infant and young child nutrition (q8) - Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) 1993
GNPR 2009-2010: Vitamin and mineral nutrition - Complementary food fortification  
GNPR 2009-2010: Vitamin and mineral nutrition - Folic acid supplementation  
GNPR 2009-2010: Vitamin and mineral nutrition - Iron supplementation  
GNPR 2009-2010: Vitamin and mineral nutrition - Oil fortification  
GNPR 2009-2010: Vitamin and mineral nutrition - Salt iodization  
GNPR 2009-2010: Vitamin and mineral nutrition - Vitamin A supplementation  
GNPR 2009-2010: School-based nutrition - Deworming  
GNPR 2009-2010: School-based nutrition - Implementation of legislation on marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children  
GNPR 2009-2010: School-based nutrition - Improved food safety at vending places  
GNPR 2009-2010: School-based nutrition - Provision of safe water  
GNPR 2009-2010: School-based nutrition - Vitamin A supplementation  
GNPR 2009-2010: Obesity and diet-related NCDs - Food-based dietary guidelines  
GNPR 2009-2010: School-based nutrition - Food distribution/supplementation for prevention of acute malnutrition  
GNPR 2009-2010: School-based nutrition - Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative (NFSI)/Health promoting schools  
GNPR 2009-2010: Vitamin and mineral nutrition - Iron and folic acid supplementation  
GNPR 2009-2010: Obesity and diet-related NCDs - Labelling of food products  
GNPR 2009-2010: Obesity and diet-related NCDs - Media promotion of healthy nutrition  
GNPR 2009-2010: Obesity and diet-related NCDs - Nutrition education and counselling  
GNPR 2009-2010: Obesity and diet-related NCDs - Promotion of fruit and vegetable intake  
GNPR 2016-2017: Infant and young child nutrition (q10) - Complementary feeding promotion and/or counselling  
GNPR 2016-2017: Infant and young child nutrition (q6) - Growth monitoring and promotion  
GNPR 2016-2017: Infant and young child nutrition (q7) - Breastfeeding promotion and/or counselling  
GNPR 2016-2017: Infant and young child nutrition (q9b) - Infant feeding in the context of HIV  
GNPR 2016-2017: Promotion of healthy diet and prevention of obesity and diet-related NCDs (q12b) Dietary and Physical Activity Guidelines for Ghana - Nutrient-based dietary guidelines  
GNPR 2016-2017: Promotion of healthy diet and prevention of obesity and diet-related NCDs (q21) - Nutrition education and counselling  
GNPR 2016-2017: Prevention and management of acute malnutrition (q38) - Management of moderate malnutrition  
GNPR 2016-2017: Prevention and management of acute malnutrition (q39) - Management of severe acute malnutrition  
GNPR 2016-2017: Nutrition and infectious disease (q41) - Counselling on nutritional support & care for people living with TB  
Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project -  
Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project - Counselling on nutritional support&care for people living with HIV  
Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project - Preventive malaria treatment