Katsina Survey: Most Households Eat Few Food Varieties, Many Births Happen at Home

Nearly nine out of ten households in Katsina State eat only one to three types of food daily. At the same time, six out of ten recent births took place at home. This information comes from a new government survey that shows clear differences based on wealth and where people live.

The 2025 Katsina State General Household Survey also states that the average monthly income for households is ₦66,420. The survey found that poorer and rural women had much lower rates of antenatal care and facility delivery compared to women from wealthier homes.

The findings were shared in the state’s General Household Survey 2025: Data for Development. The report was publicly launched along with new policy documents on development, social protection, and nutrition at the Government House in Katsina on August 20.

The survey included all 34 local government areas and used a two-stage sampling method. Out of 10,426 selected households, interviews were conducted with 10,269, according to the report.

The government said this survey aims to help with planning, budgeting, and targeting public programs across the state. But the findings also reveal that many households have limited food options and face large inequalities in income and access to maternal healthcare.

Limited Food Options

The survey showed that 87.8 percent of households eat between one and three types of food daily. Another 10.9 percent eat between four and six types, while only 0.9 percent reported having seven to nine and 0.4 percent eat ten or more.

These numbers change a lot depending on wealth. Among the poorest households, 96.8 percent eat just one to three types of food daily. For the richest households, the figure is 68.4 percent.

The food-security table in the report also revealed that 18.1 percent of households always face food shortages. Another 16.1 percent often do, while 60.1 percent said they sometimes face shortages. Just 5.9 percent said they rarely do.

Only 13 percent reported eating meals that included items like meat, vegetables, beans, eggs, or dairy every day. Another 48.6 percent said they do so several times a week.

The state government has said it is increasing spending on nutrition. In a speech delivered on his behalf by Deputy Governor Faruk Jobe, Governor Dikko Radda said the state spent over ₦1.7 billion on nutrition programs and provided another ₦500 million for projects backed by development partners. The speech did not give details on how the ₦1.7 billion was spent or the time frame covered.

Monthly Household Income

The survey revealed that the average household income is ₦66,420. The Katsina State Bureau of Statistics later told PREMIUM TIMES that these income figures were self-reported and did not account for inflation.

The average monthly income is ₦74,392 for urban households and ₦65,222 for rural households. The gap widens across wealth levels.

Households in the poorest group reported an average income of ₦34,210, compared to ₦124,905 for those in the richest group. Agriculture is the main income source for 46.9 percent of households, followed by business at 29 percent and salaries or wages at 11.2 percent.

Home Births

The survey also shows a gap in access to maternal healthcare. Among women who had a live birth in the two years before the survey, 60.8 percent gave birth at home, while 38.3 percent did so in a health facility.

The difference between rural and urban areas is significant. About 67.6 percent of rural women gave birth at home, compared to 42.8 percent of urban women. Facility delivery rates vary sharply by wealth as well.

Only 23 percent of women in the poorest wealth group gave birth in a health facility. This contrasts with 72.4 percent among women in the richest group. Education also affects this. Facility delivery was 26.8 percent among women with no education, 42.4 percent among those with primary education, and 65.1 percent among women with secondary education or higher.

Inequalities in Antenatal Care

The survey found that 24.2 percent of women with a recent live birth did not attend antenatal care. Meanwhile, 46.3 percent had between one and three visits. Another 27 percent had at least four visits, including 4.3 percent who had eight or more.

The lack of antenatal care was 26.1 percent among rural women, compared to 16.7 percent among urban women. The report also looked at three common services provided during antenatal care: blood pressure measurement, urine testing, and blood testing.

While 72.7 percent had their blood pressure checked, only 46.6 percent had a urine test, and 41.4 percent had a blood sample taken. Just 36.2 percent received all three services.

A clear wealth gap was evident. Among women in the poorest group, 21.2 percent received all three services, while 64.2 percent did among those in the richest group. The rates were 27.9 percent for rural women and 58.6 percent for urban women.

Childbearing and Wealth

The survey also found that among women aged 15 to 19, 14.8 percent had already given birth, while 6.9 percent were pregnant with their first child. In total, 21.7 percent had either given birth or were pregnant.

This number varies greatly by wealth. Among those in the poorest wealth group, 33.2 percent had either given birth or were pregnant. In contrast, it was 7.8 percent among those in the richest group. Education follows a similar trend. The combined figure was 32 percent among those with no education, 22.3 percent among those with primary education, and 8.5 percent among those with secondary education or higher.

Social Assistance

The report also found that 21.6 percent of households have received some form of social assistance. This assistance comes from various sources, not just state government programs.

The government was reported as the source of 60.8 percent of the assistance. Community sources provided 17.8 percent, individuals gave 12.4 percent, and non-governmental organizations contributed 6.6 percent.

In the same speech, Mr Radda mentioned that over 50,555 individuals benefited from the state’s Zakat program. More than ₦1.9 billion has been raised to support vulnerable households and their livelihoods. He stated that Katsina is combining traditional Islamic welfare methods, like Zakat and Waqf, with regular social support programs.

The new State Social Protection Policy aims to coordinate help for poor households, women, children, older persons, people with disabilities, internally displaced persons, and other vulnerable groups.

Clarification of Errors

PREMIUM TIMES sought clarification from the Katsina State Bureau of Statistics after noticing some mistakes in the published report. The Bureau confirmed that a figure printed as 350.0 percent in Table 9.2 was a typographical error and should read 35.0 percent. They also said the rural figure for households that received social assistance in Table 10.1 should be 19.9 percent, not the 28.1 percent printed.

Additionally, the Bureau clarified that the 10,426 households shown in Tables 10.2 to 10.4 represented the overall survey count, not the denominator for specific beneficiary analyses. They provided 2,254 as the statewide beneficiary denominator, while 1,589 beneficiary responses were used for follow-up questions on how much assistance improved their lives.

The Bureau also noted that the categories “rich,” “moderately rich,” “poor,” and “extremely poor” used in Table 10.4 reflect respondents’ self-assessment rather than an official poverty line, income, or the survey’s wealth index. Statistician-General Saifullahi Ibrahim told PREMIUM TIMES that the Bureau will release a corrected version of the report online and is checking for further errors.

Policies Need Action

In his speech, Mr Radda said the household survey and other policy documents will guide budgeting and program design. He said ministries and agencies should use statistical evidence when creating policies, budgets, and monitoring.

The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Malik Anas, also stated that creating policy documents alone will not improve people's welfare. He said success depends on whether their priorities are reflected in budgets, programs, and real improvements in people's lives.

The survey aims to provide a baseline to measure those commitments, especially for poorer and rural households that have shown weaker outcomes across many indicators.