Characterization and risk factors for unexplained female infertility in Sudan: A case-control study

Table 3 Frequency (Percentage) of dietary diversity and consumption patterns of different food groups by the study participants, n (%)

Variables	Categories	Cases (n = 210)	Controls (n = 190)	Effect size Cramer’s V	P value
Meals consumed per day	2	50 (23.8)	44 (23.2)	0.041	0.97
	3	89 (42.4)	86 (45.3)
	4	42 (20)	34 (17.9)
	5	24 (11.4)	21 (11.1)
	6	5 (2.4)	5 (2.6)
Grains, white roots, and tubers	No consume	0 (0)	0 (0)	NE	NE
	Low consume	0 (0)	0 (0)
	Moderate consume	0 (0)	0 (0)
	High consume	210 (100)	190 (100)
Pulses (beans, peas, and lentils)	No consume	7 (3.3)	4 (2.1)	0.091	0.36
	Low consume	27 (12.9)	36 (18.9)
	Moderate consume	51 (24.3)	43 (22.6)
	High consume	125 (59.5)	107 (56.3)
Nuts and seeds	No consume	57 (27.1)	69 (36.3)	0.111	0.18
	Low consume	88 (41.9)	77 (40.5)
	Moderate consume	37 (17.6)	25 (13.2)
	High consume	28 (13.3)	19 (10)
Dairy products	No consume	37 (17.6)	38 (20)	0.091	0.35
	Low consume	89 (42.4)	64 (33.7)
	Moderate consume	42 (20)	42 (22.1)
	High consume	42 (20)	46 (24.2)
Meat, poultry and fish	No consume	74 (35.2)	65 (34.2)	0.091	0.32
	Low consume	90 (42.9)	69 (36.3)
	Moderate consume	37 (17.6)	43 (22.6)
	High consume	9 (4.3)	13 (6.8)
Eggs	No consume	44 (20.9)	49 (25.8)	0.131	0.09
	Low consume	90 (42.9)	94 (49.8)
	Moderate consume	60 (28.6)	36 (18.9)
	High consume	16 (7.6)	11 (5.8)
Dark green leafy vegetables	No consume	16 (7.6)	13 (6.8)	0.021	0.97
	Low consume	101 (48.1)	89 (46.8)
	Moderate consume	55 (26.2)	53 (27.9)
	High consume	38 (18.1)	35 (18.4)
Other vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables	No consume	25 (11.9)	25 (13.2)	0.081	0.47
	Low consume	87 (41.4)	75 (39.5)
	Moderate consume	63 (30)	48 (25.3)
	High consume	35 (16.7)	42 (22.1)
Other vegetables	No consume	26 (12.4)	33 (17.4)	0.081	0.49
	Low consume	83 (39.5)	66 (34.7)
	Moderate consume	57 (27.1)	49 (25.8)
	High consume	44 (20.9)	42 (22.1)
Other fruits	No consume	28 (13.3)	30 (15.8)	0.041	0.88
	Low consume	94 (44.8)	84 (44.2)
	Moderate consume	56 (26.7)	46 (24.2)
	High consume	32 (15.2)	30 (15.8)

¹The significance level was set at P < 0.05. Cramer’s V effect size was classified according to Kim[41], 2017, as small effect size. Differences between groups were compared with chi-square test. Estimated effect sizes were calculated using Cramer’s V statistic which is expressed as mean. The four classifications of the consumption levels of the different food groups per week followed FAO classifications[27]. n: Sample size; NE: Not evaluated in STATA due to zero value in one of the study groups.