Community-Based Nutrition Programme Evaluation: Impact on Child Undernutrition Indicators in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria

Community-based nutrition programmes represent a primary platform for delivering targeted interventions to address childhood undernutrition in low-income settings across Nigeria. This study evaluates the impact of a state-implemented community nutrition programme on key undernutrition indicators among children aged 6 to 59 months in Lokoja and Ajaokuta local government areas of Kogi State, North Central Nigeria. Kogi State faces a dual burden of undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, exacerbated by poverty, seasonal food insecurity, and limited primary healthcare coverage. A pre-post comparative evaluation design was employed, assessing 280 children at programme entry and after six months of participation in a community-based intervention combining monthly growth monitoring, nutrition counselling for caregivers, therapeutic feeding referrals, and micronutrient supplementation. Weight-for-height, height-for-age, and weight-for-age z-scores were compared across assessment points. Caregiver dietary knowledge and infant and young child feeding practices were also reassessed post-intervention using validated survey instruments. Findings are expected to demonstrate significant improvements in weight-for-height z-scores, reduced wasting prevalence, and improved caregiver feeding knowledge following programme participation. Challenges including dropout, supply chain disruptions, and community mobilisation gaps are examined. The study provides evidence to inform programme scale-up and quality improvement for community nutrition initiatives in North Central Nigeria. Keywords: community nutrition programme, child undernutrition, programme evaluation, Kogi State, growth monitoring.