Household Dietary Diversity and Child Stunting in Rural Communities of Kebbi State

Childhood stunting remains a critical public health challenge in rural North West Nigeria, where poverty, poor dietary diversity, and limited access to health services converge to create persistent undernutrition. This study examines the relationship between household dietary diversity and the prevalence of stunting among children aged 6 to 59 months in rural communities of Birnin Kebbi and Yauri local government areas in Kebbi State. A community-based cross-sectional design was used, with 350 households recruited through multi-stage sampling. Household dietary diversity was measured using the Household Dietary Diversity Score, which quantifies consumption across standard food groups over a 24-hour recall period. Child nutritional status was determined using height-for-age z-scores referenced against WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study standards, with z-scores below negative two classified as stunted. Structured questionnaires captured socioeconomic status, maternal education, water and sanitation access, and child feeding practices. The study hypothesises that households with low dietary diversity scores have significantly higher rates of child stunting after adjusting for confounders. The role of maternal nutrition knowledge and agricultural productivity in mediating dietary diversity is also explored. Findings will contribute to multi-sectoral stunting reduction strategies in Kebbi State and similar rural North West settings. Keywords: dietary diversity, stunting, children, Kebbi State, malnutrition.