Table 3

Risk of bias assessment

Study	Data source	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Abera L t al Dejene T, Laelago T.40	Community-based cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	Other results cited	⬤
Abraham D, Elifaged H, Berhanu E.41	Community-based cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◐	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯
Aguayo VM, Badgaiyan N, Paintal K.79	BMIS—customised version of DHS	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	Other results cited	◯
Aguayo VM, Badgaiyan N, Dzed L.80	BMIS—customised version of DHS	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯	◯
Akombi BJ, et al.99	DHS 2013	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
Altare C. et al.42	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	Other results cited	⬤
Baig-Ansari, N. et al.81	Cross-sectional survey	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
Biswas S, Bose K.82	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯
Bukusuba J, Kaaya AN, Atukwase A.44	Case–control study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
Chirande, L. et al 45	DHS 2010	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯
Choudhury, N. et al.91	Surveillance data	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯	⬤	◐	Other results cited	⬤
Chowdhury, M.R. et al.92	DHS 2011	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	Other results cited	⬤
Choy, C. et al.76	Community-based cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
Cruz, L. et al.48	Case–control study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
Tosheno D, Mehretie Adinew Y, Thangavel T, et al 49	Community-based cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯
Díez-Navarro A, et al. 73	NGO intervention data	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
El-Taguri A, et al.75	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◐	⬤	⬤	◯	⬤
Eskezyiaw A, Tefera C.50	Community-based cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯	⬤
Geresomo N, et al.54	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯
Gupta A.83	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	No
Habtom K, et al.57	Community-based cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯	◐
Islam MM, et al.94	Longitudinal	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
Khan, A.T. et al.84	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯	◯
Kismul H, et al.36	DHS 2013–2014	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯	◯
Kumar D, et al.85	Community-based cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◐	⬤	◯	◯
Masibo PK, Makoka D.60	DHS data—multiple years	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯	◯
Matanda DJ, Mittelmark MB, Kigaru DMD.61	DHS data—multiple years	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
Medhin G, et al.56	Surveillance data	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
Mgongo M, et al.62	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	Other results cited	⬤
Miah RW, Apanga PA, Abdul-Haq Z. 103	Multiple indicator cluster survey data	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	Other results cited	⬤
Ndemwa M, et al.64	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	Other results cited	◯
Ndiku M, et al.65	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯
Ntenda PAM, Chuang YC.66	DHS multiple years	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
Olusanya BO, Wirz SL, Renner JK.104	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯	⬤
Phengxay M, et al.96	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯	◯
Poda GG, Hsu C, Chao JCJ.105	DHS 2010	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	Other results cited	⬤
Ramli, A. et al.97	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
Sakisaka K, et al. 37	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯	◯
Sand A, et al. 86	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯	◯
Shaikh S, et al.87	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯	◯
Shashank KJ, Angadi MM.88	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	◯	⬤	◐	⬤	⬤	⬤	◐
Tadesse AW, et al.69	Cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◐
Wamani H, et al.21	DHS multiple years and countries	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
Yisak H, Gobena T, Mesfin F.70	Community-based cross-sectional study	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	◯	⬤

1. Were aims and objectives clearly stated?, 2. Was the target/reference population clearly described (is it clear who research is about)?, 3. Was a sample size justification, power description, or variance and effect estimates provided?, 4. Were the risk factor and outcome variables measured appropriate to the aims of the study?, 5. Were methods of anthropometric measurement and growth reference charts used well described?, 6. Is it clear what was used to determine statistical significance and/or precision estimates (eg, p values, CIs)?, 7. Results—were basic data adequately described?, 8. Were the male/female differences or non-differences discussed?, 9. Were limitations of study discussed?
⬤=Yes, ◯=No, ◐=Partially.
BMIS, Bhutan's Multiple Indicator Survey; DHS, Demographic and Health Surveys; NGO, non-governmental organisation.