Study of Food Insecurity and Nutritional Status in Borno State Conflict-Affected Communities

Protracted conflict in Borno State has created a complex humanitarian and food security crisis, and measuring its demographic dimensions at community level provides evidence for emergency and recovery nutrition programming. This study assessed food insecurity and nutritional status among households in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Jere, and Konduga Local Government Areas, Borno State. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted among 320 households, including 240 affected by displacement. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and dietary diversity questionnaire were administered, and anthropometric measurements taken for children under five. Sixty-eight percent of households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity. Severe food insecurity was significantly higher in displaced households (54.6 percent) than non-displaced households (22.7 percent). Mean dietary diversity score was 3.2 out of 12, well below minimum acceptable levels. Global acute malnutrition among under-five children was 18.7 percent, above the WHO emergency threshold. Agricultural livelihood disruption affected 74.3 percent of formerly farming households. Recommendations include scaling up the Borno State emergency food assistance programme, integrating nutrition-sensitive agricultural recovery activities, establishing community-based therapeutic feeding centres, and maintaining a continuous food security monitoring system linked to Borno State Emergency Management Agency.

Keywords: food insecurity, Borno State, nutrition, displacement, humanitarian crisis These findings highlight the need for integrated humanitarian and food system recovery interventions in Borno State's most affected communities.