Table 1 Selection and description of the variables

Individual or compositional -level factors

 Child's age (Months)

Categorized into (1) 0 – 11; (2) 12 –23; (3) 24 –35; (4) 36– 47; and (5) 48 – 59

 Sex of the Child

Categorized into (1) Female and (2) Male

 Type of Birth

Categorized into (1) Single and (2) Multiple birth

 Birth Weight (grams)

Categorized into (1) Normal ≥ 2500; (2) Low < 2500

Maternal/Household factors

 Mother's age during delivery (Years)

Categorized into (1) 15–24; (2) 25 – 34; (3) 35– 49

 Mother's Education level

Categorized into (1) No formal education; (2) Primary; (3) Secondary; (4) Higher

 Breastfeeding duration (Months)

Categorized into (1) < 6; (2) 6–12; (3) 13–24; (4) > 24

 Mother's BMI (Kg/m2)

Categorized into (1) < 18.5; (2) 18.5–24.9; (3) 25.0

 Mother's ANC Visits

Categorized into (1) < 4; (2) ≥ 4

 Anemia

Categorized into (1) Not anemic; (2) Severe; (3) Moderate; (4) Mild

 Ethnicity

Categorized into (1) Others; (2) SC; (3) ST

 Sex of the Household Head

Categorized into (1) Male; (2) Female

 Wealth Quintile

Categorized into (1) Richest; (2) Poorest; (3) Poorer; (4) Middle; (5) Richer

Contextual or Regional level factors

 Place of residence

Categorized into (1) Rural; (2) Urban

 Residing region

Categorized into (1) South; (2) North; (3) Central; (4) East; (5) North East; (6) West

 Poverty Rate

Proportion of households living below poverty level (wealth index below 20%, poorest quintile).Categorized into (1) Low; (2) High. Median value serves as the reference for the low and high groups

 Literacy Rate

Proportion of people in the contextual with no formal education. Categorized into (1) Low; (2) High. Median value serves as the reference for the low and high groups

 Proper Sanitation

Categorized into (1) Yes; (2) No

 Safe Drinking Water

Categorized into (1) Yes; (2) No