Table 1 Description of study variables and their categorization

 Gender

Girl or boy

 Age-adjusted feeding status

• Aged ≥ 12 months and on regular diet

• Aged 7–11 months and weaned at or after 7 months

• Aged 5–11 months and weaned at 5–6 months

• Nursing infants aged 0–6 months

 Immunization status

Incomplete/none or complete/ appropriate.

 Reported ill during one year period

Yes or no

 Maternal literacy

Illiterate or literate

 Number of live children

≥4 or ≤ 3

 Poor maternal health

Yes or no

 Household socio-economic status (SES)

(House type, land ownership, income)

Low, middle or upper

 Distance from the nearest health facility

>3 or ≤ 3 km

 Water source

Non-piped (well, pond, canal or river) or piped

 A girls’ school.

Absent or present