Determinants of Dietary Diversity Among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Katsina State: An Empirical Analysis

This study empirically examines the determinants of dietary diversity among women of reproductive age in rural communities of Katsina State, North West Nigeria. Dietary diversity is a validated proxy for diet quality and micronutrient adequacy, and its determinants among reproductive-age women in underserved northern Nigerian settings remain insufficiently studied. The study adopts a cross-sectional analytical design, targeting 380 women aged 15 to 49 in Bakori and Dandume local government areas, selected through multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected using the Women's Dietary Diversity Score tool, a socioeconomic questionnaire, and a structured interview schedule. Objectives include quantifying dietary diversity scores, identifying socioeconomic, agricultural, and educational determinants, and examining the moderating role of market access. Analytical methods include logistic regression, structural equation modelling, and Pearson correlation. The Sustainable Diets Framework anchors the study, integrating nutritional, environmental, economic, and cultural dimensions of dietary quality. Preliminary literature suggests that women's education, household income, agricultural production diversity, and proximity to markets are the strongest correlates of dietary diversity in comparable northern Nigerian settings. Findings are expected to contribute evidence to the identification of leverage points for improving women's dietary quality through targeted policy and programmatic interventions. Recommendations target the Katsina State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the World Food Programme, and tertiary nutrition departments. Keywords: dietary diversity, women of reproductive age, determinants, rural communities, Katsina State.