Key Indicators Solomon Islands Food and Nutrition Security Profiles Solomon Islands has experienced stagnation in percapita GDP and undernourishment in recent years. Dietary Energy Supply (DES) has continued to increase; nevertheless, the dietary quality remains poor and is based on cereals and starchy roots. Despite a slight declining trend in nutritional outcomes, this poor quality of diet is largely responsible for persistent high levels of stunting and underweight, high levels of anaemia, high level of Low Birth Weight, and Vitamin A deficiencies. Another factor that can be associated with poor nutritional outcomes is insufficient access to improved sanitation and water sources, particularly in rural areas. The country has not made recent progress in this area; improved water and sanitation levels continue to be far from internationally acceptable standards. Figure 1.1 Food Availability From 199 to 211: DES increased 16% Animalorigin supply decreased 9% Vegetalorigin products (mainly cereals) increased 2% as the major DES source 25 2125 247 212 Figure 1.2 Undernourishment and Economic Growth From 199 to 212: GDP increase of 16% Despite the relatively slow economic growth, undernourishment decreased 4% GDP per person, PPP (constant 211 dollars) Undernourished in total population International $ 2 26 22 21 2 19 2.5 1964 24 22 2 Figure 1.4 Child Mortality From 199 to 212: Under5 mortality reduced 19%, will significantly miss the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target Infant mortality reduced 18% Neonatal mortality reduced 15% 8.5 1.4 4.7 28.6 2.8 27.2 25.9 16.2 15 14.4 1.8 MDG Target 1 1.1 2 15 1 5 24 1891 2261 Kcal per person per day 18 17 16 15 14 1 1692 1.4 199 1992 1994 1996 1998 2 22 24 26 28 21 212 Source: GDP: WDI 214 / Undernourished: FAO FSI_21 Figure 1. Child Malnutrition in 27: Stunting 9%, underweight 12% in 27 Wasting 4% and overweight % Low Birth Weight 1% in 27, a public health concern Overweight Underweight Stunting Wasting 18 16 14 12 1 199 1995 Figure 1.5 Anaemia A severe public health issue, high among pregnant women (6%), nonpregnant women (49%) and under5 children alike (49%) Deworming and iron supplementation can be effective for Total reducing <2 yr anaemia in pregnant women as well as children. Children <5 years Non pregnant women of reproductive age Pregnant women 2 2 4 6 8 1 Prevalence of Anaemia (%) Source: WHO Worldwide prevalence of Anaemia (19925) 25 4 49 21 6 212 Infant Neonatal Under fives Source: Interagency Group for CME (21) 215 199 211 Anthropometry (Table 1.1) Underweight women (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) Animal Origin Vegetal Origin 12 Overweight adults (BMI >= 25 kg/m2) Total Dietary Energy Supply (DES) 4 27 Proportion of infants with low birth weight 1 % 27 Source : FAOSTAT FBS: 214 update Source: UNICEFWBWHO Joint Global Nutrition Dataset_21 Source: WHO Global Database on BMI & DHS 28
Solomon Islands Food and Nutrition Security Profiles Food Availability / Food Access Access to food Figure 2.2 Economic access to food General and food inflation 45 4 General inflation Food inflation 4.6 5 Food Availability Figure 2.1 Food supply by food group (kcal/person/year) Total dietary energy supply= 2,47 (211) 25 2 15 1 Cereals 211 199 5 828 5 2 21 22 2 24 25 26 27 28 Rice 546 42 Source: LABORSTA Labour Statistics Database, ILO (21) Wheat Meat & Milk & Eggs 78 118 1 28 Food inflation has remained in proportion to general inflation for most years, although the increase in 28 (the global food price crisis) was significantly higher Sugars and syrups 8 95 Fruits & vegetables 75 72 Vegetable oils 42 2 Fish & Fish products 72 112 Animal fats Pulses Starchy roots 22 22 81 6 85 855 Figure 2. Share of food expenditure 1 Non food items (29) 4 8 1,2 Source: UN_FAO Food Balance Sheets_214 Update 8 Cereals 2 Starchy roots continue to be the most important source of dietary energy (4%) Cereals have increased their contribution as an important source of food energy and represent % of the total, Vegetal oils are also significant contributors of DES (1%) Rice comprises 66% of the cereal contribution 6 4 Fruits and vegetables Fish Sugars 4 Veg oils 2 Meat, milk and eggs 51 Other % Total expenditure per person % Dietry energy Consumption Source: UN FAO RAP based on national HIES, ECS, SES, HLSS 21 Update, Solomon Islands
Food Utilization Solomon Islands Food and Nutrition Security Profiles Food utilization refers both to household preparation practices of foods, which influence nutrient content of consumed foods, and to the absorption of nutrients by the human body after consumption. Nutrient absorption in the gut is strongly influenced by health status, particularly the presence of diarrhoea. Hygienic environmental conditions related to improved water and sanitation are important determinants of health and infection incidence and prevalence. Water and Sanitation Figure.1 Access to Improved Sanitation From 2 to 212: No major changes in overall access to improved sanitation in 12 years Wide disparities between rural and urban areas also have remained without change Just 15% of the rural population has access, a concerning statistic given that around 8% of the population is rural % Population 1 8 6 4 2 26 81 82 29 % Population Figure.2 Open Defecation From 2 to 212: No major changes in sanitation in 12 years two thirds of rural households still follow this practice, compared to 1% in urban areas 1 8 6 4 2 66 66 57 55 1 1 % Population Figure. Access to Improved Water Sources From 2 to 212: No major changes in access to improved water sources in 12 years Wide disparities between rural and urban areas also have remained unchanged 81% of people have access to improved water sources 1 8 6 4 2 9 9 8 81 77 77 Food Safety 15 15 2 21 22 2 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 2 21 22 2 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 Total Rural Urban Total Rural Urban Total Rural Urban Source: WHOUNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, 214 Source: WHOUNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, 214 Source: WHOUNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, 214 2 21 22 2 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 Figure.4 Diarrhoea Management of Diarrhoea (Table.1) No Data Zinc Share of children under age 5 with diarrhoea receiving zinc treatment Existing policy framework Zinc Supplementation and Reformulated Oral Rehydration Salt in the Management of Diarrhea Source:
Food Utilization Solomon Islands Food and Nutrition Security Profiles Nutrition and Health Figure.5 Exclusive Breastfeeding Exclusive breastfeeding in 26/27 was 74% and early initiation of breast feeding 75% 1 8 6 4 2 Early initiation of breastfeeding Exclusive breast feeding rate (5 months) Source: SLB_DHS 2627_29 75 74 2627 Figure.6 Complementary Feeding Introduction of complementary feeding is timely for 85% of children 66% of children aged 62 months meet the minimum meal frequency Meeting the recommended quality of diet remains a challenge. Introduction of solid, semisolid or soft food (breastfed children Minimum dietary diversity (breastfed children 62 months) Minimum meal frequency (breastfed children 62 months) Minimum acceptable diet (breastfed children 62 months) Source: SLB_DHS 2627_29 45 61 66 8 2 4 6 8 1 Figure.7 Duration of Breastfeeding No Data Figure.8 Child Malnutrition and Poverty Underweight prevalent in 14% of young children in the lower wealth quintile and 1% in the higher 16 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 Overweight Stunting Underweight Wasting 14 Lowest Second Middle Fourth Highest Source: UNICEFWHO Joint Global Malnutrition Estimates 1 Micronutrient Status Figure.9 Vitamin A Vitamin A deficiencies (1% of preschoolers) indicates that Vitamin A is still lacking in the daily diet of some children 1 Iodine (Table.2) Households consuming iodized salt Iodine deficiency (Urinary Iodine Concentration <1ug/L) among schoolage children Source: 75 5 25 1.1 Vitamin A Supplementation Coverage full children 659 months Vitamin A Deficiency (PreSchool Aged Children) <.7umoL /a * VAD is a severe public health problem if >2% of preschool children (671 months) have low serum retinol (<.7µmol/L) Source: a/ WHO Global prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in population at risk 199525 report. *Optimal UIE 1 199ug/L
Solomon Islands Food and Nutrition Security Profiles Enabling environment for Nutrition and Food security Policy documents addressing nutrition issues Policy Table 1 Nutrition related issues covered in these policies Covered Comments Child undernutrition Maternal and Child Undernutrition Low Birth Weight Maternal undernutrition Obesity and diet related NCDs Infant and Young Child Nutrition Source: Child obesity Adult obesity Diet related NCDs Breastfeeding Complementary feeding Int l Code of Marketing of BMS Supplementation: Vitamin A children/women Vitamins and Minerals Iron Folate children/women Zinc children Other vitamins & min child/women Food fortification Underlying and contextual factors Food Safety Food security Food Aid Nutrition and Infection Gender Maternal leave Social Protection policies or legislation including food or nutrition component
Solomon Islands Food and Nutrition Security Profiles Policy Table 2 Demographic Indicators (Table 5.1) Year Economic Indicators (Table 5.) Year Population size (thousands) /a 55 212 GDP annual growth rate /c.9 % 212 Average annual population growth/a 2.1 % 212 Proportion of population urbanised/c 2.9 % 212 GDP per capita (PPP) (constant 211 international dollars) /c 1,964 212 Number of children <5 years (thousand)/a 81 Education level of mothers of underfives: None (%) 212 Gini index /c (1= complete inequality; = complete equality) Male 66 212 Life expectancy at birth (Years) /c Female 68.9 212 Agriculture population density(people/ ha of arable land /b) 4.5 2628 Unemployment rate /c 1.9 % 1999 Population below US $ 1.25 (PPP) per day /c (%) Employment in agriculture sector (% of total employment) /c Poverty gap ratio /e Women employed in agriculture sector (% of total female employment) /c) Adolescents (Table 5.2) Year Income share held by households /c Poorest 2% Richest 2% Adolescent birth rate (number of births per 1, adolescent girls aged 1519) /d 7 28211 Adolescent girls aged 1519 currently married or in union /d 12.5 % 25 212 Women aged 224 who gave birth before age 18 /d (%) 15 28212 Sources: a/ World Bank, Health Nutrition and Population Statistics Database 214 Update b/ FAOSTAT 21 Update; c/ World Bank, World Development Indicators Database, 214 Update; d/ UNICEF, State of the World Children 214 (data refer to the most recent year available during the period specified) The information inlcuded in this Food Security and Nutrition profile, is backed by recognized, validated and properlty published information available untill June 214. Although updated information might be available at national level form different sources, until requirements of quality, validity and proper publication are met, it has not been inlcuded in this profile.