Research

Link NCA Yobé State, Nigeria

This study was conducted in the North of Nigeria in the State of Yobé, led by Action Against Hunger and funded by FCDO. Its purpose was to identify the risk factors of undernutrition in the area to inform and improve nutrition security programmes.

Publication date

1st January 2017

Author(s)

Action Against Hunger

Funded by

FCDO

In the North of Nigeria, economic instability, the drop in agricultural production, climatic change, and, more recently, the armed conflict between Boko Haram have excluded a part of the population from benefitting from the growth of the country.

In the zone under analysis in the State of Yobé, the prevalence rate of global acute malnutrition was recorded as 14.6% and the global chronic malnutrition rate as 68.3% (SMART survey, November 2016).

Out of the major risk factors, the following have been identified:

  • Inadequate breast-feeding practices and premature introduction of supplementary feeding,
  • Unhealthy environment and poor hygiene practices resulting in increased vulnerability to waterborne illnesses,
  • Degradation of food insecurity: shortage of food in the household,
  • Insufficient level of care.