Prevalence of Malnutrition Among Under-Five Children in Rural Communities of Kebbi State, North West Nigeria

Malnutrition remains one of the leading causes of child morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria carrying a disproportionately high burden. This study examines the prevalence and determinants of malnutrition among children under five years in selected rural communities in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, involving 350 mother-child pairs recruited from primary healthcare facilities across three local government areas. Anthropometric measurements including weight-for-age, height-for-age, and mid-upper arm circumference were obtained using standardised WHO protocols. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire captured sociodemographic characteristics, feeding practices, immunisation status, and household food security. Findings revealed a stunting prevalence of 48.3%, wasting of 19.7%, and underweight of 31.6%, all exceeding national and global benchmarks. Significant predictors of malnutrition included low maternal education, subsistence farming as the primary livelihood, inadequate dietary diversity, and delayed initiation of complementary feeding. The study highlights the compounded vulnerability of children in agrarian, low-income households in north-western Nigeria. Recommendations include scaling up community-based nutrition programmes, integrating nutrition counselling into routine child welfare clinics, and strengthening inter-sectoral collaboration between health and agriculture ministries. These findings provide baseline data for local government health planning and contribute to the broader understanding of childhood nutritional challenges in Nigeria's rural north. Keywords: malnutrition, under-five children, stunting, Kebbi State, North West Nigeria.