The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) granted clearance for the conduct of the 2023 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) by the Department of Science and Technology's Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI).

The 2023 NNS will provide empirical data on the state of food security in Filipino households and the nutritional status and well-being of Filipino children, women, and other nutritionally vulnerable population groups for timely policy decisions at the national and regional levels.

The survey is composed of the following components:

1. Socio-economic Status – to determine the economic status of households as indicated by the wealth index;

2. Anthropometry – to evaluate the nutritional status of all population groups by determining the prevalence of underweight, under height, thinness, overweight and obesity, high waist circumference, high waist-hip ratio, and low birth weight;

3. Biochemical – to determine the prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency, iodine deficiency disorder, iron deficiency anemia and other micronutrient deficiencies;

4. Clinical Health and Nutrition of Adults and Other Members – to assess the prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases such as elevated blood pressure and behavioral risk factors;

5. Dietary – to assess the sufficiency of all household food, energy, and nutritional intakes across all population groups;

6. Household Food Security – to assess level of experience-based food security status at the household as well as coping mechanisms and strategies adopted during times when food in the household is not available;

7. Government Nutrition/Health Program Participation – to assess households’ and members’ participation in selected nutrition and related government programs;

8. Maternal Health and Nutrition – to ascertain the health and nutrition of mothers with children aged 0 to 3 as well as their caregiving and health-seeking behaviors;

9. Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices – to provide updated data on the feeding practices of Filipino infants and toddlers aged 0 to 23 months and other relevant factors affecting feeding practices;

10. Mental Health – to evaluate mental health conditions of adolescents aged 10 to 17 years old and adults aged 18 and above; and

11. Food Environment – to determine the perceptions of households on food environment dimensions.

The 2023 NNS is a nationwide survey that adopts the 2013 Master Sample Design for household-based surveys and will cover 81 provinces, 33 highly urbanized cities (HUCs), and three other areas. The data will be collected on 42,768 sample households with an estimated number of 160,000 individuals from April 2023 to May 2024. A total budget amounting to PhP 346.1 million will be utilized, and the survey results are expected to be released between November and December 2024.

The survey was reviewed and cleared for conduct under the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS), a mechanism being implemented by the PSA by virtue of Rule 28 of Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10625 to:

1. ensure sound design for data collection;

2. minimize the burden placed upon respondents;

3. effect economy in statistical data collection;

4. eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts; and

5. achieve better coordination of government statistical activities.

In line with this, the PSA enjoins all sampled households and individuals to participate in the survey by providing the necessary information.

For further information on SSRCS, please contact the Statistical Standards Division of the Standards Service with telephone numbers (02) 8376-1928 and (02) 8376-1931, and email address ssd.staff@psa.gov.ph.

DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General

See more at the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System landing page.