Sample description
| Country | DHS survey years | Birth years available (minimum, maximum) | Sample size | Mean HAZ* pre-2004 | Mean HAZ* 2004+ | Mean maternity leave (weeks) |
| Control countries (countries without policy changes) | ||||||
| Armenia | 2010, 2005, 2000 | 1996, 2010 | 4034.0 | −0.8 | −0.7 | 20.0 |
| Benin | 2012, 2006, 2011, 2001 | 1996, 2012 | 23 748.0 | −1.7 | −1.5 | 14.0 |
| Bolivia | 2003, 2004, 2008 | 1998, 2008 | 16 847.0 | −1.4 | −1.2 | 12.9 |
| Burkina Faso | 2010, 2003 | 1998, 2010 | 14 633.0 | −1.6 | −1.4 | 14.0 |
| Cambodia | 2000, 2005, 2010, 2006, 2011 | 1996, 2010 | 8837.0 | −2.1 | −1.6 | 12.9 |
| Cameroon | 2011, 2004 | 1999, 2011 | 8216.0 | −1.5 | −1.2 | 14.0 |
| Colombia | 2010, 2004, 2009, 2005, 2000 | 1996, 2010 | 32 066.0 | −1.0 | −0.8 | 12.0 |
| Congo | 2005, 2011, 2012 | 2000, 2012 | 8368.0 | −1.3 | −1.0 | 15.0 |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | 2013, 2014, 2007 | 2002, 2014 | 11 324.0 | −2.2 | −1.6 | 14.0 |
| Dominican Republic | 2007, 2013, 2002 | 1997, 2013 | 21 735.0 | −0.6 | −0.4 | 12.0 |
| Egypt | 2008, 2005, 2000 | 1996, 2008 | 30 858.0 | −1.1 | −0.9 | 12.5 |
| Ethiopia | 2011, 2000, 2005 | 1996, 2011 | 21 504.0 | −2.1 | −1.5 | 12.9 |
| Gabon | 2012, 2000, 2001 | 1996, 2012 | 6709.0 | −1.2 | −1.0 | 14.0 |
| Ghana | 2008, 2003 | 1998, 2008 | 5467.0 | −1.4 | −1.1 | 12.0 |
| Guinea | 2005, 2012 | 2000, 2012 | 5687.0 | −1.9 | −1.0 | 14.0 |
| Haiti | 2012, 2006, 2005, 2000 | 1996, 2012 | 11 437.0 | −1.3 | −1.0 | 12.0 |
| Honduras | 2006, 2012, 2011, 2005 | 2000, 2012 | 19 188.0 | −1.7 | −1.2 | 12.0 |
| Jordan | 2012, 2007, 2002 | 1997, 2012 | 15 554.0 | −0.7 | −0.5 | 10.0 |
| Kenya | 2009, 2008, 2003 | 1998, 2009 | 9818.0 | −1.3 | −1.3 | 8.6 |
| Liberia | 2007, 2013, 2006 | 2002, 2013 | 7495.0 | −1.9 | −1.3 | 12.9 |
| Madagascar | 2009, 2004, 2008, 2003 | 1998, 2009 | 9295.0 | −1.9 | −1.8 | 14.0 |
| Mali | 2006, 2013, 2012 | 2001, 2013 | 15 091.0 | −1.8 | −1.3 | 14.0 |
| Mozambique | 2011, 2003, 2004 | 1998, 2011 | 17 369.0 | −1.8 | −1.6 | 8.6 |
| Namibia | 2000, 2006, 2007 | 1996, 2007 | 6566.0 | −1.2 | −1.2 | 12.0 |
| Nepal | 2011, 2012, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2002 | 1996, 2012 | 13 766.0 | −2.2 | −1.8 | 7.4 |
| Niger | 2012, 2006 | 2001, 2012 | 8470.0 | −2.4 | −1.6 | 14.0 |
| Nigeria | 2013, 2008, 2003 | 1998, 2013 | 47 797.0 | −1.6 | −1.4 | 12.0 |
| Peru | 2000, 2008, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2005, 2003 | 1996, 2012 | 67 917.0 | −1.5 | −1.2 | 12.9 |
| Rwanda | 2010, 2005, 2000, 2011 | 1996, 2011 | 13 527.0 | −1.9 | −1.6 | 12.0 |
| Senegal | 2010, 2011, 2005, 2014, 2012, 2013 | 2000, 2014 | 18 260.0 | −1.2 | −1.0 | 14.0 |
| Sierra Leone | 2013, 2008 | 2003, 2013 | 6093.0 | −1.6 | −1.3 | 12.0 |
| Tanzania | 2004, 2010, 2005, 2009 | 1999, 2010 | 13 965.0 | −2.0 | −1.5 | 12.0 |
| Controls summary† | −1.5 | −1.2 | 12.4 | |||
| Treated countries (countries with policy changes) | ||||||
| Bangladesh | 2007, 2004, 2011 | 1999, 2011 | 18 884.0 | −2.0 | −1.6 | 13.6 |
| Lesotho | 2010, 2004, 2009, 2005 | 1999, 2010 | 2996.0 | −2.0 | −1.4 | 1.8 |
| Uganda | 2001, 2000, 2011, 2006 | 1996, 2011 | 9548.0 | −1.8 | −1.4 | 6.8 |
| Zambia | 2001, 2013, 2007, 2002, 2014 | 1996, 2014 | 21 950.0 | −2.0 | −1.6 | 14.9 |
| Zimbabwe | 2011, 2010, 2006, 2005 | 2000, 2011 | 8208.0 | −1.6 | −1.3 | 13.4 |
| −1.9 | −1.5 | 11.3 | ||||
*Height-for-age z score.
†Means weighted by Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) weights.