Table 4 Model without and with cross level interaction; compositional and contextual level factors with childhood stunting (aged 0–59 Months) in India

Individual-level factors

Child's age (Months)

 0 – 11

Ref

Ref

 12–23

1.88 (1.79–1.97)

 < 0.001

1.87 (1.79–1.96)

 < 0.001

 24 – 35

1.67 (1.59–1.75)

 < 0.001

1.65 (1.57–1.73)

 < 0.001

 36 – 47

1.59 (1.51–1.84)

 < 0.001

1.53 (1.46–1.82)

 < 0.001

 48 – 59

1.45 (1.38–1.53)

 < 0.001

1.44 (1.37–1.51)

 < 0.001

Sex of the Child

 Female

Ref

Ref

 Male

1.18 (1.15–1.21)

 < 0.001

1.14 (1.11–1.17)

 < 0.001

Type of Birth

 Single Birth

Ref

Ref

 Multiple Birth

1.28 (1.12–1.46)

 < 0.001

1.26 (1.14–1.41)

 < 0.001

Birth Weight (grams)

  ≥ 2500

Ref

Ref

  < 2500

1.50 (1.45–1.55)

 < 0.001

1.44 (1.39–1.54)

 < 0.001

Maternal/Household factors

Mother's age (Years)

 15 – 24

Ref

Ref

 25 – 34

0.96 (0.93–0.99)

 < 0.001

0.95 (0.93–0.99)

 < 0.001

 35 – 49

0.93 (0.89–0.97)

 < 0.001

0.92 (0.89 -0.98)

 < 0.001

Mother's Education level

 No formal education

Ref

Ref

 Primary

0.93 (0.89–0.97)

 < 0.001

0.94 (0.90–0.98)

 < 0.001

 Secondary

0.77 (0.74–0.79)

 < 0.001

0.77 (0.75–0.80)

 < 0.001

 Higher

0.73 (0.67–0.81)

 < 0.001

0.62 (0.59–0.65)

 < 0.001

Breastfeeding duration (Months)

  < 6

Ref

Ref

 06–12

1.02 (0.98–1.06)

0.203

1.02 (0.98–1.05)

0.293

 13 – 24

1.21 (1.14–1.25)

 < 0.001

1.19 (1.14–1.25)

 < 0.001

  > 25

1.22 (1.16–1.28)

 < 0.001

1.24 (1.18–1.30)

 < 0.001

Mother's BMI (Kg/m2)

  < 18.5

Ref

Ref

 18.5 -24.9

0.81 (0.78–0.83)

 < 0.001

0.82 (0.79–0.84)

 < 0.001

  ≥ 25.0

0.66 (0.64–0.69)

 < 0.001

0.68 (0.65–0.70)

 < 0.001

Mother's ANC Visits

  < 4

Ref

Ref

  ≥ 4

0.94 (0.92–0.97)

 < 0.001

0.90 (0.87–0.95)

 < 0.001

Anaemia

 Not Anemic

Ref

Ref

 Severe

1.24 (1.15–1.34)

 < 0.001

1.17 (1.15–1.34)

 < 0.001

 Moderate

1.11 (1.06–1.13)

 < 0.001

1.05 (1.02–1.13)

 < 0.001

 Mild

1.01 (0.98–1.04)

0.456

1.01 (0.97–1.05)

0.458

Ethnicity

 Others

Ref

Ref

 SC

1.11 (1.05–1.18)

 < 0.001

1.06 (1.02–1.13)

 < 0.001

 ST

1.01 (0.94–1.08)

0.692

1.02 (0.96–1.09)

0.421

Sex of the Household Head

 Male

Ref

Ref

 Female

1.04 (1.01–1.07)

0.021

1.11 (1.04–1.18)

 < 0.001

Wealth Quintile

 Richest

Ref

Ref

 Poorest

1.95 (1.86–2.06)

 < 0.001

1.84 (1.72–1.91)

 < 0.001

 Poorer

1.68 (1.60–1.76)

 < 0.001

1.55 (1.44–1.67)

 < 0.001

 Middle

1.46 (1.39–1.53)

 < 0.001

1.31 (1.11–1.48)

 < 0.001

 Richer

1.19 (1.14–1.25)

 < 0.001

1.18 (1.03–1.36)

 < 0.001

Contextual level factors

Place of residence

 Urban

Ref

Ref

 Rural

1.15 (1.11–1.19)

 < 0.001

0.94 (0.91–0.98)

 < 0.001

Region

 South

Ref

Ref

 North

0.81 (0.77–0.85)

 < 0.001

0.82 (0.78–0.86)

 < 0.001

 Central

1.05 (1.01–1.10)

 < 0.001

0.97 (0.92–0.99)

 < 0.001

 East

1.01 (0.95–1.05)

0.836

0.87 (0.82–0.91)

 < 0.001

 North East

0.91 (0.86–0.95)

 < 0.001

0.81 (0.76–0.86)

 < 0.001

 West

1.21 (1.13–1.27)

 < 0.001

1.11 (1.04–1.17)

 < 0.001

Poverty Rate

 Low

Ref

Ref

 High

1.76 (1.73–1.78)

 < 0.001

1.68 (1.41–1.79)

 < 0.001

Literacy Rate

 Low

Ref

Ref

 High

0.70 (0.68–0.72)

 < 0.001

0.53 (0.39–0.61)

 < 0.001

Proper Sanitation

 Yes

Ref

Ref

 No

1.17 (1.14–1.20)

 < 0.001

1..06 (1.03–1.10)

 < 0.001

Safe Water

 Yes

Ref

Ref

 No

1.07 (1.01–1.13)

 < 0.001

1.11 (1.02–1.26)

 < 0.001