Nutrition professionals density

What does the indicator tell us?

This indicator reflects the capacity of a country to design and implement nutrition policies and programmes effectively.

It focuses on individuals who are trained to pursue a professional career in nutrition, described in most countries as dietitians or nutritionists (including nutrition scientists, nutritional epidemiologists and public health nutritionists). These individuals are trained sufficiently in nutrition practice to demonstrate defined competencies, and to meet the certification or registration requirements of national or global nutrition or dietetics professional organizations. This training, at universities or other tertiary or higher education institutions, may occur at bachelor, post-graduate certificate or diploma, masters or doctoral degree levels.

Only in some countries do dietitians and nutritionists complete the same training and perform the same functions. Similarly, professional registration or accreditation of dietitians and nutritionists only occurs in some countries, and where it does occur it may be joint or separate. Countries are encouraged to implement the professional registration or accreditation of dietitians and nutritionists, to provide a guarantee of appropriate training and professional competence.

The indicator "number of trained nutrition professionals per 100 000 population" is included as a policy environment and capacity indicator in the core set of indicators for the Global Nutrition Monitoring Framework.

How is it defined?

This indicator is defined as the number of trained nutrition professionals per 100,000 population in the country in a specified year.

What are the consequences and implications?

Trained nutrition professionals work at facilities including health facilities and at population and community levels; they may influence nutrition policies and design as well as the implementation of nutrition intervention programmes at various levels. They also play an important role in training other health and non-health cadres to plan and deliver nutrition interventions in various settings. The requirement for a "trained nutrition professionals" indicator is based on recognition that the availability of a sufficient workforce with appropriate training in nutrition within a country will lead to better outcomes for country-specific nutrition and health concerns. Validation of the indicator has shown that it can predict several maternal, infant and young child nutrition outcomes.

Source of data

WHO. Global nutrition policy review 2016-2017. Country progress in creating enabling policy environments for promoting healthy diets and nutrition. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018 (https://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/policies/global_nut_policyreview_2016-2017/en/).

Further reading

Hughes R, Shrimpton R, Recine E, Margetts B. A competency framework for global public health nutrition workforce development: a background paper. World Public Health Nutrition Association; 2011 (http://www.wphna.org/htdocs/downloadsapr2012/12–03%20WPHNA%20Draft%20competency%20standards%20report.pdf).

Ellahi B, Annan R, Sarkar S, Amuna P, Jackson AA. Building systemic capacity for nutrition: training towards a professionalised workforce for Africa. Proc Nutr Soc. 2015;74(4):496-504.

WHO, UNICEF. Global Nutrition Monitoring Framework: operational guidance for tracking progress in meeting targets for 2025. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017 (http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/operational-guidance-GNMF-indicators/en/).