As regards the NDHS, data are mostly presented on a national basis with some breakdown for the NW states. Some of the information has already been, or will be reported in this paper, in the sections that relate to a description of the state of nutrition in Nigeria.  These include characteristics relating to breastfeeding, IYCF, vitamin supplementation, iron intake, deworming medication. 

The NDHS 2008 shows that nationally for the indicators of wasting and stunting there is an inverse relationship between mother’s education and wealth. Male children are more likely to be stunted than female children and rural children are more likely to be stunted than urban children.  In addition where information has been disaggregated by geopolitical zone, the NW states score poorly on most nutritional indicators.

MICS 2007 confirmed the high rate of undernourishment in the NW states and the rural/urban patterns. Age of child, mother’s education and wealth status were also strongly associated with malnutrition.