Study variable measurements

SSBs consumption which is measured by asking a woman if she drank yesterday during the day or night, whether at home or anywhere else “Any sugar-sweetened beverages like sweet fruit drinks, soft drink/fizzy drinks, sweet tea, sugar-sweetened milk tea” with an optional answer of Yes, No, or No response [38, 39].

The independent variables were chosen in the light of the current state of knowledge of their association with consumption of SSBs. The explanatory variables include age, marital status, education level, employment status, pregnancy status, ever given birth, savory and fried snack consumption, achieved minimum dietary diversity, wealth, and household food insecurity [23, 40–42].

Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) was measured by combining (aggregating) food groups and sub food groups into the 10 MDD food groups. These food groups were (1) Grains, white roots and tubers, and plantains, (2) pulses (beans, peas and lentils),3) nuts and seeds,4) Diary,5) Meat, poultry and fish,6) Eggs,7) Dark green, leafy vegetables,8) Other Vitamin-A rich fruits and Vegetables,9) Other fruits, and 10) Other Vegetables. The 10 MDD groups are then summed into a score ranging from 0 to 10. Finally each woman is then coded “yes” or “no” for scoring ≥ 5 [38].

is measured using an 8 items (Annual food insecurity experience scale), and then categorized as “severe” if 6 or more of the statements were true, “moderate” if 4–5 were true, and “low/none” otherwise [43, 44].