Professional Design of a Malnutrition Surveillance System for Katsina State

Malnutrition surveillance in Katsina State requires a systematic data collection and analysis system that enables timely detection of nutritional deterioration and supports programmatic response. This study designed a malnutrition surveillance system for Katsina State, drawing on assessment of current nutrition data flows from PHC facilities, nutrition survey data, and emergency nutrition responses. A professional design methodology was applied, incorporating structured consultations with 18 Katsina State nutrition programme staff, PHC facility nutrition focal persons, and 8 nutrition surveillance specialists, alongside benchmarking against CMAM Forum surveillance standards and Nigeria's Integrated Nutrition Information System design. Assessment confirmed that anthropometric screening data were collected at PHC facilities but were inconsistently transmitted to the state nutrition unit, missing data rates exceeded 30 percent in 12 LGAs, and no automated alert system existed for detecting threshold exceedance in wasting rates. The surveillance system designed specifies monthly community-based MUAC screening by community health workers, digital data submission through DHIS2 nutrition module, automated LGA-level alert generation when wasting exceeds 10 percent threshold, and quarterly nutrition situation reports for Katsina State Ministry of Health and WFP. Expert review by ten nutrition surveillance specialists confirmed the system's design quality. The study recommends the system be piloted in five LGAs with UNICEF support before state-wide deployment.

Keywords: malnutrition surveillance, Katsina State, MUAC screening, DHIS2, nutrition monitoring