Prevalence of Wasting and Stunting Among Under-Five Children in Rural Zamfara State, North West Nigeria

Zamfara State records some of the highest rates of acute and chronic malnutrition among children under five in Nigeria, driven by poverty, food insecurity, and poor healthcare access. This study investigates the prevalence and correlates of wasting and stunting among children aged 6 to 59 months in Talata Mafara and Bungudu local government areas of Zamfara State, North West Nigeria. Wasting reflects acute undernutrition and is associated with increased risk of mortality, while stunting signals chronic nutritional deficits with long-term developmental consequences. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted, with 400 mother-child pairs recruited through multi-stage cluster sampling. Child anthropometric data including weight, height, and mid-upper arm circumference were collected using standardised WHO-recommended procedures. Nutritional status indices were calculated using WHO Anthro software. Data on child feeding practices, disease history, water and sanitation access, maternal nutritional knowledge, and household food security were collected through structured interviews. Findings are anticipated to reveal a high burden of both wasting and stunting, with exclusive breastfeeding failure, late complementary feeding initiation, and repeated diarrhoeal illness as significant predictors. The study provides critical data to guide emergency nutrition programming and long-term community nutrition interventions in Zamfara State. Keywords: wasting, stunting, children under five, Zamfara State, malnutrition prevalence.