Orphans and vulnerable children’s nutrition in Nigeria with overlap with biological relations with the household head

This research analyses the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey Data. The multilevel logistic regression is used as the model estimation technique. The study investigates how the intersection of being a paternal orphan or vulnerable child and having close versus distant biological relations with the household head impacts wasting. Findings indicate that paternal orphans or vulnerable children who are grandchildren face the greatest significant probability of wasting compared to paternal orphans or vulnerable children who are biological children and non-orphans/non-vulnerable children who are grandchildren. Grandparent-headed households are not meeting the nutritional needs of paternal orphans and vulnerable children who are grandchildren. Policy needs to focus on directing monetary, food, and health resources to grandmothers caring for orphaned and vulnerable grandchildren.