Nutrition Landscape Information System (NLiS)


South Africa

NLiS Country Profile: South Africa

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 24.7

Malnutrition in Women

Female malnutrition based on BMI

Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies

Indicator Year Value
Anaemia children <5 y (Hb <110 g/L) (%) 2016 36.8
Anaemia in non-pregnant women (Hb <120 g/L) (%) 2016 25.7
Anaemia in pregnant women (Hb <110 g/L) (%) 2016 28.1
Anaemia in women of reproductive age (%) 2016 25.8
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) 2005 214.8
Median urinary iodine concentration in children 6-12 years (μg/L) 2005 176.8
Subclinical vitamin A deficiency in preschool-age children (serum/plasma retinol <0.70 μmol/L) (%) 1994 33.3

Health Services

Indicator Year Value
Births attended by skilled health personnel (%) 2008 94.3
Population using improved drinking-water sources (%) 2015 93.2
Population using improved sanitation facility (%) 2015 66.4
Children aged 1 year immunized against measles (%) 2016 75.0
Any antenatal iron supplementation (%)   no data
Children <5 years with diarrhoea receiving ORT (%)   no data
Children with diarrhoea receiving zinc (%) 2016 36.8
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 47.0
Births in baby-friendly facilities (%) 2011 47.0
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) (%) 2016 91.1
Population below the international poverty line (%) 2014 18.9

Caring Practices

Indicator Year Value
Early initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth (%) 2016 67.3
Introduction to solid, semi-solid or soft foods in infants 6-8 months (%) 2016 82.5
Minimum acceptable diet (MAD) in children 6-23 months (%) 2016 22.9
Children with diarrhoea <5 y receiving oral rehydration therapy (ORT) and continued feeding (%)   no data
No breastfeeding data available for this country

Commitment

Indicator Year Value
General government expenditure on health as % of total government expenditure 2014 14.2
Total expenditure on health as % of gross domestic product 2014 8.8
Per capita total expenditure on health (US$) 2014 1148.4
Nutrition component of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2007-2010 Medium
Nutrition component of Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)   no data
Nutrition Governance score 2009 Medium
International Code on Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes: Legal status of the Code 2018 Full provisions in law
Maternity leave 2013 17 weeks

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) 2016-2017 5.8
Nursing and midwifery personnel density per 1,000 population 2015 5.1
GDP per capita (PPP US$) 2018 13,730
GDP per capita annual growth rate (%) 2018 -0.6
Official development assistance (ODA) received (net disbursements) (% of GNI) 2017 0.3
Low-Income Food-Deficit Country (LIFDC) 2018 No

Meta-indicators

Indicator Year Value
Averaged aggregate governance indicators 2018 0.1
Gender Inequality Index (GII) 2017 0.389
Gender Parity Index in primary level enrolment (ratio of girls to boys) 2017 1
Human development index (HDI) value 2017 0.7
Seats held by women in national parliament (%) 2019 42.7

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 Policy on Food and Nutrition Security 2014
Regulations relating to foodstuffs for infants and young children: Amendment (R. No. 434 of 2013) 2013
Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2013-17 2013
The Government of South Africa United Nations Strategic Cooperation Framework, 2013-2017 2013
Roadmap for Nutrition in South Africa 2013
Strategic Plan for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Women’s Health (MNCWH) and Nutrition in South Africa 2012
Foodstuff, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act. 1972 (Act 54 of 1972) Regulations Relating to Foodstuffs for Infants and Young Children (No.R 991 of 2012) 2012
Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act no. 54 of 1972): Regulations Relating to Trans-fat in Foodstuffs 2011
Regulations relating to the labelling and advertising of foodstuff 2010
Regulations amending the Regulations relating to the fortification of certain foodstuffs (No. R. 1206 of 2008) 2008
Infant and Young Child Feeding Policy 2007
Regulations relating to the fortification of certain foodstuffs (No. R. 504 of 2003) 2003
Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment, Act No. 11 of 2002 2002
Unemployment Insurance Act 2001 of 13 January 2001, Act No. 63 of 2001, as amended by the Amendment Unemployment Insurance Act 2001
Progamme title and actions Start Year
GNPR 2016-2017: Promotion of healthy diet and prevention of obesity and diet-related NCDs (q12a) Food-based dietary guidelines for South Africans - Food-based dietary guidelines 2012
GAIN Micro-Nutrient Supplementation - Lipid-based nutrient supplementation 2010
GAIN Micro-Nutrient Supplementation - Multiple micronutrients supplementation 2010
Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project - Deworming 2009
Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project - Distribution of insecticide-treated bednets 2009
Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project - Food distribution/supplementation for prevention of acute malnutrition 2009
Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project - Infant feeding in the context of HIV 2009
Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project - Management of moderate malnutrition 2009
GAIN Large-scale Food Fortification Program - Maize/corn flour fortification 2004
GAIN Large-scale Food Fortification Program - Wheat flour fortification 2004
GNPR 2016-2017: Promotion of healthy diet and prevention of obesity and diet-related NCDs (q15) - Reformulation of foods and/or beverages to reduce saturated fatty acid, trans fatty acid, sugars or salt/sodium content  
GNPR 2016-2017: Promotion of healthy diet and prevention of obesity and diet-related NCDs (q16) - Ban or virtual elimination of industrial trans fatty acids  
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 (q8) - Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI)  
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: Promotion of healthy diet and prevention of obesity and diet-related NCDs (q13) - Nutrition and health claims  
GNPR 2016-2017: Promotion of healthy diet and prevention of obesity and diet-related NCDs (q13) - Nutrient declaration  
GNPR 2016-2017: Promotion of healthy diet and prevention of obesity and diet-related NCDs (q17) - Taxation and price policies  
GNPR 2016-2017: Promotion of healthy diet and prevention of obesity and diet-related NCDs (q20) - Media promotion of healthy nutrition  
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  
GNPR 2016-2017: Nutrition and infectious disease (q41) - Counselling on nutritional support & care for people living with TB  
GNPR 2016-2017: School health and nutrition (q11) - Deworming  
GNPR 2016-2017: School health and nutrition (q11) - Home, school or community gardening  
GNPR 2016-2017: School health and nutrition (q11) - Monitoring children's growth in schools  
GNPR 2016-2017: School health and nutrition (q11) - Nutrition education included in school curriculum  
GNPR 2016-2017: School health and nutrition (q11) - School feeding programmes  
Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project -  
Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project - Management of severe acute malnutrition