Table 1 Mean, standard deviation and description of all variables

Stunting (WHO)

0.36

0.48

Height-for-age z-score<-2SD of WHO population (1-0)

Z-score (WHO)

1.58

1.27

Height for age z-score (based upon WHO)

Stunting (NCHS)

0.29

0.45

Height-for-age z-score<-2SD of NCHS population (1-0)

Z-score (NCHS)

1.41

1.17

Height for age z-score (based upon NCHS)

Breastfeeding

16.98

8.34

Duration of breastfeeding (in months)

Age of child

   ≤ 6 months

0.12

0.33

Age of child split into 3 categories: ≤ 6 months; 6–12 months, >12 months

   6–12 months

0.12

0.32

   > 12 months

0.76

0.43

Size of child

   Size large

0.41

0.49

Size of child at birth in 4 categories: very large, large, normal, small, very small

   Size normal

0.41

0.49

   Size small

0.12

0.32

   Size very small

0.06

0.24

Sex of child

0.50

0.50

Sex of child: male(1), female (0)

Region

   Upper

0.09

0.29

region of residence: Upper (Upper East and Upper West), Middle (Ashanti and Brong Ahafo), South (Western, Central, Volta and Eastern), Accra, Northern [55]

   Middle

0.30

0.46

   South

0.36

0.48

   Accra

0.11

0.31

   Northern

0.14

0.34

Urban

0.33

0.47

Urban location (1), rural location (0)

Wealth

   Poor

0.39

0.49

Wealth groups (poor) based upon principal component analysis. The wealth indicator is estimated on household level and combines the following assets: electricity, radio, TV, fridge, bike, motor, car, phone and the type of the flooring material [60].

   Middle

0.32

0.47

   Rich

0.29

0.45

Toilet

0.70

0.46

Having a toilet (flush toilet, traditional pit toilet, ventilated improved pit latrine) (1-0)

Water

0.61

0.49

Whether the household has access to safe water available (1-0). The following sources of water supply were regarded as safe water: piped water (piped into dwelling, piped into yard, plot, or public tap); water from protected well

Twoplus

0.59

0.49

Whether there are more than two under-fives in the household (1-0)

Riskintb

0.10

0.30

Whether there were less than 24 months between the child's birth and the birth of the previous child (1-0)

Married

0.91

0.29

Whether the child's mother is married or living together (1-0)

Mother's education

   No or incomplete

0.56

0.50

Mother's education level split into 3 categories: no or incomplete primary, primary and incomplete secondary, secondary and higher

   Primary

0.40

0.49

   Secondary and higher

0.04

0.20

Health services index

   Healthlow

0.33

0.47

Use of health services (low, moderate, high) estimated by principal component analysis. The indicator combines skilled birth attendance, antenatal care and proportion of recommended vaccinations [45]. The age schedule from the Expanded Program on Immunization set by the WHO was used: BCG at birth, DPT and Polio at 2, 3 and 4 months and measles at 9 months.

   Healthmod

0.32

0.46

   Healthhigh

0.31

0.46

Mother's age at birth

   <20

0.11

0.31

Mother's age at birth in years split into 3 categories: <20, 20–39, >39

   20–39

0.81

0.39

   >39

0.08

0.27

Mother's occupation

   Prof, tech, man, cler, sales, service

0.32

0.47

Professional, technical, managerial, clerical, sales, services; agriculture; manual; not working

   Agriculture

0.44

0.50

   Manual

0.14

0.35

   Not working

0.10

0.30

Observations

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