A Multi-Level Analysis of the Determinants of Child Stunting in Nigeria: The Role of Home Economics Education at the Household and Community Levels

This study conducts a multi-level analysis of the determinants of child stunting in Nigeria, with particular focus on quantifying the independent and interactive contributions of Home Economics Education at both household and community levels to stunting prevalence among children under five. Stunting affects approximately 37 percent of Nigerian children, representing one of the highest prevalence rates globally, yet the structural contribution of women's Home Economics training to this outcome has not been modelled at multiple levels of analysis. Using nationally representative secondary data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey combined with primary community-level data collection in 120 enumeration areas across all six geopolitical zones, the study constructs a two-level hierarchical linear model with individual and community-level predictors. Analytical methods include multilevel logistic regression, variance decomposition, and intraclass correlation coefficient estimation. The Multi-Level Social Determinants of Child Nutrition Framework anchors the study. Original contributions include the first multilevel analysis of Home Economics Education as a structural determinant of stunting in Nigeria, community-level Home Economics exposure indices, and geopolitical zone-stratified coefficients. Findings are expected to demonstrate that community-level Home Economics education density exerts an independent protective effect on stunting beyond individual maternal education. Recommendations address the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, UNICEF, and the Federal Ministry of Education. Keywords: stunting determinants, multilevel analysis, Home Economics Education, child nutrition, Nigeria.