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Table 2 Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding among infants aged 0–5 months by region in India, 2015–16 NFHS

From: Regional prevalence and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in India

Regions

North

South

East

West

Central

North-East

Study variables

aOR (95% CI)

P-value

aOR (95% CI)

P-value

aOR (95% CI)

P-value

aOR (95% CI)

P-value

aOR (95% CI)

P-value

aOR (95% CI)

P-value

Child factors

 Sex of baby

  Male

  

Ref.

         

  Female

  

0.75(0.59, 0.95)

0.015

        

 Birth order

  First-born

Ref.

 

Ref.

 

Ref.

 

Ref.

 

Ref.

 

Ref.

 

  2nd-4th

0.71(0.60, 0.85)

< 0.001

0.56(0.45, 0.70)

< 0.001

0.70(0.59, 0.83)

< 0.001

0.46(0.34, 0.61)

< 0.001

0.80(0.71, 0.91)

< 0.001

0.50(0.39, 0.64)

< 0.001

  5 or more

0.59(0.42, 0.83)

0.003

0.54(0.16, 1.83)

0.32

0.80(0.60, 1.08)

0.144

0.67(0.34, 1.31)

0.239

0.68(0.54, 0.85)

0.001

0.32(0.21, 0.48)

< 0.001

 Perceived size of the baby

  Small

  

Ref.

         

  Average

  

0.74(0.50, 1.10)

0.137

        

  Large

  

0.53(0.35, 0.80)

0.003

        

Maternal factors

 Mother’s education

  No education

  

Ref.

     

Ref.

 

Ref.

 

  Primary

  

1.11(0.66, 1.84)

0.701

    

1.13(0.96, 1.34)

0.145

1.13(0.96, 1.34)

0.145

  Secondary and higher

  

0.59(0.41, 0.84)

0.003

    

1.24(1.07, 1.43)

0.004

1.24(1.07, 1.43)

0.004

 Mother’s religion

  Hindu

    

Ref.

   

Ref.

   

  Muslim

    

0.96(0.76, 1.20)

0.703

  

0.75(0.63, 0.90)

0.001

  

  Christianity and others

    

0.55(0.36, 0.85)

0.006

  

1.26(0.68, 2.35)

0.459

  

 Type of caste or tribe

  Scheduled caste

    

Ref.

 

Ref.

 

Ref.

   

  Scheduled tribe

    

1.47(1.09, 1.99)

0.012

0.76(0.39, 1.48)

0.417

1.82(1.49, 2.22)

< 0.001

  

  Other backward class

    

0.82(0.67, 1.00)

0.049

0.85(0.50, 1.43)

0.531

1.00(0.86, 1.17)

0.969

  

  Others

    

0.95(0.73, 1.25)

0.729

0.56(0.32, 0.99)

0.046

0.83(0.68, 1.00)

0.055

  

Household factors

 Marital status

  Currently married

        

Ref.

   

  Formerly married (divorced/separated/ widowed)

        

0.32(0.14, 0.70)

0.004

  

 Household wealth index

  Poor

        

Ref.

   

  Middle

        

0.89(0.77, 1.04)

0.155

  

  Rich

        

0.69(0.59, 0.81)

< 0.001

  

Health service factors

 Antenatal clinic visits

  None

Ref.

           

  1–3

1.13(0.87, 1.48)

0.361

          

  4+

1.34(1.02, 1.76)

0.035

          

 Type of delivery assistance

  Health professional

        

Ref.

 

Ref.

 

  Traditional birth attendant

        

0.83(0.69, 0.99)

0.043

0.73(0.50, 1.06)

0.100

  Other untrained personnel

        

0.89(0.78, 1.01)

0.071

1.49(1.08, 2.06)

0.016

 Mode of delivery

  Vaginal

          

Ref.

 

  Caesarean section

          

1.72(1.24, 2.40)

0.001

Community-level factor

 Place of residence

  Urban

      

Ref.

     

  Rural

      

0.71(0.51, 0.99)

0.045

    
  1. Statistically significant (using p-value < 0.05 and confidence intervals) study factors from multivariable models are shown. In the model of child factors, adjustments were made for maternal, household, health service and community factors. A similar approach was used for maternal, household, health service and community factors that adjusted for respective factors in multivariable models. aOR adjusted odds ratio, ref. reference category