Nutrition Landscape Information System (NLiS)


Namibia

NLiS Country Profile: Namibia

Child Malnutrition

Child (<5 y) Anthropometry
Indicator Year Value
Low birth weight (<2500 g) (%) 2015 15.5
Overweight (BMI-for-age >+1 SD) in school-age children and adolescents 5-19 years (%) 2016 15.3

Malnutrition in Women

Female malnutrition based on BMI

Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies

Indicator Year Value
Anaemia children <5 y (Hb <110 g/L) (%) 2016 47.1
Anaemia in non-pregnant women (Hb <120 g/L) (%) 2016 23.0
Anaemia in pregnant women (Hb <110 g/L) (%) 2016 27.1
Anaemia in women of reproductive age (%) 2016 23.2
Clinical vitamin A deficiency in women (history of night blindness during most recent pregnancy) (%)   no data
Median urinary iodine concentration in children 6-12 years (μg/L) 1998-1999 216.3
Subclinical vitamin A deficiency in preschool-age children (serum/plasma retinol <0.70 μmol/L) (%) 1992 23.5

Health Services

Indicator Year Value
Births attended by skilled health personnel (%) 2013 88.2
Population using improved drinking-water sources (%) 2015 91.0
Population using improved sanitation facility (%) 2015 34.4
Children aged 1 year immunized against measles (%) 2016 85.0
Any antenatal iron supplementation (%) 2013 84.0
Children <5 years with diarrhoea receiving ORT (%) 2013 77.5
Children with diarrhoea receiving zinc (%) 2013 0.2
Children aged 6-59 months receiving vitamin A supplements (dose 1) (%) 2017 27.0
Children aged 6-59 months receiving vitamin A supplements (dose 2) (%) 2017 31.0
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) (%) 2013 73.6
Population below the international poverty line (%) 2015 13.4

Caring Practices

Indicator Year Value
Early initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth (%) 2013 71.2
Introduction to solid, semi-solid or soft foods in infants 6-8 months (%) 2013 79.6
Minimum acceptable diet (MAD) in children 6-23 months (%) 2013 12.5
Children with diarrhoea <5 y receiving oral rehydration therapy (ORT) and continued feeding (%) 2013 52.0
No breastfeeding data available for this country

Commitment

Indicator Year Value
General government expenditure on health as % of total government expenditure 2014 13.9
Total expenditure on health as % of gross domestic product 2014 8.9
Per capita total expenditure on health (US$) 2014 869.3
Nutrition component of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF)   no data
Nutrition component of Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)   no data
Nutrition Governance score   no data
International Code on Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes: Legal status of the Code 2018 No legal measures
Maternity leave 2013 12 weeks

Capacity

Indicator Year Value
Degree training in nutrition exists 2016-2017 No
Nutrition is part of medical curricula 2016-2017 Yes
Nutrition professionals density (per 100,000 population) 2016-2017 0.6
Nursing and midwifery personnel density per 1,000 population 2007 2.8
GDP per capita (PPP US$) 2018 11,135
GDP per capita annual growth rate (%) 2018 -1.9
Official development assistance (ODA) received (net disbursements) (% of GNI) 2017 1.4
Low-Income Food-Deficit Country (LIFDC) 2018 No

Meta-indicators

Indicator Year Value
Averaged aggregate governance indicators 2018 0.3
Gender Inequality Index (GII) 2017 0.472
Gender Parity Index in primary level enrolment (ratio of girls to boys)   no data
Human development index (HDI) value 2017 0.6
Seats held by women in national parliament (%) 2019 46.2

Female Education Levels

Female Education Levels 2013

Education

No education related data available for this country

Under 5 Mortality

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

Policy title Start Year
United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPAF) 2014
National Agenda for Children 2012
National Development Plan IV (NDP4) 2012
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Implementation Plan, Results Framework & Dashboard of Indicators 2012
Strategic Plan for Nutrition 2011–2015 2011
National Health Policy Framework. Take control of your health. 2010
Health Sector Strategic Plan 2009-2013 2009
REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA Third National Development Plan (NDP3) 2008
National Policy for School health 2008
Labour Act 2007
National Policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding 2003
Prevention, Control and treatment of Vitamin A Deficiency Policy Guidelines 1999
Food and Nutrition Policy for Namibia 1995
Salt Iodization Legislation no 883 1994
Amendment of Regulations relating to the Standards of Food, Drugs and Disinfectants (Salt iodization) 1994
International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes (awaiting final approval)  
Maternity Protection Law  
National Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases  
Progamme title and actions Start Year
GNPR 2016-2017: School health and nutrition (q11) National Policy for School Health - Deworming 2008
GNPR 2016-2017: School health and nutrition (q11) National Policy for School Health - Nutrition education included in school curriculum 2008
GNPR 2016-2017: Nutrition and infectious disease (q41) - Counselling on nutritional support & care for people living with TB 2006
GNPR 2016-2017: Promotion of healthy diet and prevention of obesity and diet-related NCDs (q12a) Food and nutrition guidelines for Namibia - Food-based dietary guidelines 2000
GNPR 2016-2017: Infant and young child nutrition (q8) - Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) 1991
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 (q9a) - Feeding of LBW infants  
GNPR 2016-2017: Infant and young child nutrition (q9b) - Infant feeding in the context of HIV  
GNPR 2016-2017: Infant and young child nutrition (q9c) - Infant feeding in the context of emergencies  
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 (q37) - Food distribution/supplementation for prevention of acute malnutrition  
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