Nutritional Status of Filipino

Infants and Young Children

0-23 months

EVA ABILLE GOYENA, Ph.D.

Senior Science Research Specialist
 Trends in the prevalence of malnutrition
among Filipino children <2 years old
underweight stunting wasting overweight *
30
25.7
24.2 23.2 25.5
Prevalence (%)

22.2
20.9 20.2
20

16.6 16.6 16.7 17.0 17.2 15.0

15.5
10
10.6 10.4 11.4
9.0 10.2 7.4
8.8
5.3 5.9 4.2 3.3
2.4 2.7 3.6
0
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
 Prevalence of underweight among Filipino children
< 2 years old by age groups
25
20.8
20 18.8
Prevalence %

17.0
15 13.2
10 9.2 8.7

0
0-5m 6-11m* 12-23m

*significant (p-value<0.05) 2015 2018

 Prevalence of stunting among Filipino children
< 2 years old by age groups
40 36.2 36.6
Prevalence %

30

20 17.3 15.5
12.7 11.5
10

0
0-5m 6-11m 12-23m

2015 2018
 Prevalence of wasting among Filipino children
< 2 years old by age groups
15
10.9 11.6
Prevalence %

10 8.6 8.5 9.2

6.4
5

0
0-5m 6-11m 12-23m *

2015 2018
*significant (p-value<0.05)
Prevalence of overweight among Filipino children
< 2 years old by age groups
10
%

8 6.9
Prevalence

6 5.2
4.2
4 2.4 3.1 2.9
2
0
0-5m 6-11m 12-23m

2015 2018
in young children
 Prevalence of anemia among Filipino children
<2 years old by age groups
50 48.2
40.5
Prevalence %

40
35.4
30
24.7
20

10

0
6-11 mos 12-23 mos*

*significant (p-value<0.05)
2013 2018
Infant and Young Child
Feeding Practices
Breastfeeding
Practices
1 Timely breastfeeding initiation ** in the Philippines

100

80 77.1 69.2
Percentage (%)

65.1
60 51.9
40

20

0
2011 2013 2015 2018 *
*significant (p-value<0.05)
**within 1 hour after delivery among children 0-23 months
 2 70
Exclusively breastfeeding among Filipino infants
0-5.9 months

60
48.9 52.3
48.8
54.9
Percentage (%)

50
40 35.9
29.7
30
20
10 *significant (p-value<0.05)
0
2003 2008 2011 2013 2015 2018 *
Year
Percentage distribution of exclusively breastfed children
0-5.9 months by single age in months: Philippines, 2018

100 Philippines: 54.9%

Percentage (%)

80
65.0 68.6
60 57.0 57.2
51.3

40
29.0
20

0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Age in Months
 Proportion of Filipino infants exclusively breastfed
up to 5.9 months
40
35
28.3 29.0
Percentage (%)

30
23.8 24.7
25
20
15
10
5
0
2011 2013 2015 2018
Mean duration of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding
among Filipino infants 0-23 months
10
8.2 8.3
7.7
8 8.0
Mean Duration in Months

6
4.1 4.2 4.0
4 3.7
Exclusive Breastfeeding
2
Ever-Breastfeeding
0
2011 2013 2015 2018
Year
3 100
Continued breastfeeding at 1 year and at 2 years:
Philippines, 2011-2018
100

80
1 year 80
2 years

Percentage (%)
Percentage (%)

60 51.7 53.2 50.6 60

48.4
40 40
28.9
32.7 33.1
27.6
20 20

0 0
2011 2013 2015 2018 2011 2013 2015 2018
Complementary
Feeding
Practices
 MINIMUM DIETARY DIVERSITY
Proportion of children 6-23 months of age
Minimum Dietary who receive foods from 4 or more food
Diversity: groups (DDS > 4) of the following 7 food
groups:

1. Grains, roots and tubers 3. Legumes and Nuts 6. Vitamin A rich fruits &
vegetables

5. Eggs
7. Other fruits & vegetables
2. Dairy Products 4. Flesh Meat
 Trends in the proportion Filipino children 6-23 months
meeting the Minimum Dietary Diversity
40

29.2
Percent (%)

30
23.0
21.6
20 15.5

10

0
2011 2013 2015 2018 *
Year *significant (p-value<0.05)
Minimum Acceptable Diet
Proportion of children 6-23 months
Minimum
meeting both the minimum dietary diversity
Acceptable
and the minimum meal frequency to
Diet:
ensure both dietary and nutrient adequacy.
 Trends in the proportion Filipino children of 6-23 months
meeting the Minimum Acceptable Diet

20 18.6
Percent (%)

15 13.4
12.1
10
6.4
5

0
2011 2013 2015 2018 *
*significant (p-value<0.05) Year
 Proportion of children 6-23 months meeting
the minimum acceptable diet: Philippines, 2018
Philippines: 13.4

By age group 30
By wealth status
30

Percentage (%)
21.7
Percentage (%)

20
18.9
20
14.2 12.4 13.3 13.4
11.7
10 10
4.0
0 0
6-11 12-17 18-23 Poorest Poor Middle Rich Richest
Age in Months Wealth Quintile
 Summary
o Stunting prevalence remains high and doubles at one year of age,
coinciding the transition to complementary feeding period.

o Anemia prevalence is high, specifically among infants 6-11 months old.

o Exclusive breastfeeding among 0-5 months old significantly improved

in a span of 7 years, but the rate of breastfeeding exclusively until 5.9
months duration remains low.
o Young children meeting the minimum acceptable diet is very low,
particularly among infants 6-11 months, thus complementary feeding
remains suboptimal.