Table 2 Univariate analysis for the association between the selected explanatory factors and infant mortality, Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center, March, 2012

Socio-economic factors

Mother’s educational levels

Literate

12(9.4)

25(19.7)

1

Illiterate

115(90.6)

102(80.3)

2.62

1.16-5.92

0.02*

Residence

Urban

13(10.2)

26(20.5)

1

Rural

114(89.8)

101(79.5)

2.86

1.21-6.75

0.017*

Father’s Educational levels

Literate

31(24.4)

39(30.7)

1

Illiterate

96(75.6)

88(69.3)

1.4

0.79-2.22

0.2

Monthly Income

Poor

90(70.9)

67(52.8)

2.35

1.33-4.14

0.003*

Satisfied basic need

57(29.1)

60(47.2)

1

Occupation of mother

Housewife

92(72.4)

95(74.8)

Farmer/Merchant

35(27.6)

32(25.2)

1.17

0.62-2.19

0.631

Family size

≤ 5

43(33.9)

65(51.2)

1

>5

84(66.1)

62(48.8)

2.10

1.23- 3.58

0.005*

Radio possession

Yes

40(31.5)

62(48.8)

1

No

87(68.5)

65(51.2)

2.38

1.32- 4.26

0.02*

Age of mother at birth the child

<20

10(7.9)

9(7.1)

1.18

0.45-3.06

0.741

20-34

97(76.4)

107(84.3)

1

≥35

20(15.7)

11(8.7)

2.14

0.92-4.96

0.077

Reproductive health and related factors

Age at marriage

< 18

78(61.4)

69(54.3)

1

≥ 18

49(38.6)

58(45.7)

1.32

0.80-2.16

0.267

Age at first birth

< 20

93(73.2)

93(73.2)

1

≥ 20

34(26.8)

34(34.8)

1

0.58-1.70

1.0

Antenatal care follow-up

Yes

32(25.2)

58(45.7)

1

No

95(74.8)

69(54.3)

2.62

1.47-4.66

0.001£

Place of delivery

Home

121(95.0)

120(94.5)

1

Health Institution

6(5.0)

7(5.5)

0.86

0.28-2.55

0.782

Child and nutrition related factors

Sex of the infant

Male

74(58.3)

73(57.5)

1

Female

53(41.7)

54(42.5)

0.9

0.57-1.62

0.894

Immunization**

Yes

23(32.7)

51(71.8)

1

No

48(67.8)

20(28.2)

4.11

1.98 -8.52

0.001£

Size of child at birth

Average and above

106(83.5)

117(92.1)

1

Small

21(16.5)

10(7.9)

2.57

1.07-6.16

0.028

Birth order and interval

Order 2–4 & Interval ≥2 yrs

33(26.0)

62(48.8)

1

Order =1

10(7.9)

10(7.9)

1.55

0.57-4.18

0.382

Order 2–4 & Interval < 2 yrs

10(7.9)

4(3.1)

5.28

1.48-18.81

0.010*

Order ≥ 5 & Interval ≥2 yrs

57(44.9)

43(33.9)

2.49

1.35-4.60

0.002*

Order ≥ 5 & Interval < 2 yrs

17(13.4)

8(6.3)

4.23

1.49-11.95

0.006*

Complementary feeding**

At 6 months

25(43.9)

85(66.9)

1

Less than 6 months

32(56.1)

42(33.1)

6.67

1.98-22.44

0.001£

Household environmental factors and hygiene

Latrine Availability

Available

102(80.3)

116(91.3)

1

Not available

25(19.7)

11(8.7)

2.56

1.18-5.52

0.013*

Water source

Safe

60(47.3)

72(58.7)

1

unsafe

67(52.7)

55(41.3)

1.57

0.91-2.72

0.105

Roof type

Thatched

100(78.7)

83(65.4)

1

CIS

27(21.3)

44(34.6)

0.49

0.27-0.88

0.018*

Availability of window

Available

25(19.7)

44(34.6)

1

Not available

102(80.3)

83(65.4)

2.19

1.21-3.95

0.010*

Number of rooms of house

≥2

97(76.4)

102(80.3)

1

< 2

30(23.6)

25(19.7)

1.46

0.68-3.13

0.335

Soap use for hand washing^@

Yes

47(37.0)

74(58.3)

1

No

80(63.0)

53(41.7)

2.58

1.47-4.52

0.001*

Behavioral Factors

Knowledge

Satisfactory

46(36.2)

52(59.1)

1

Not satisfactory

81(63.8)

75(40.9)

1.26

0.73-2.17

0.406

Perceived Susceptibility

Positive

72(56.7)

79(62.2)

1

Negative

55(43.3)

48(37.8)

1.28

0.75-2.15

0.353

Perceived Severity

Positive

73(57.5)

80(63.0)

1

Negative

54(42.5)

47(37.0)

1.31

0.75-2.16

0.327

Perceived Benefits

Positive

64(50.4)

83(65.4)

1

Negative

63(49.6)

44(34.6)

2.46

1.29-4.69

0.004£

Perceived Barriers

Positive

50(39.4)

62(48.8)

1

Negative

77(60.6)

65(51.2)

1.55

0.90-2.64

0.108

Practice

Good

45(36.0)

81(63.28)

1

Poor

80(64.0)

46(36.2)

3.83

2.03-7.24

0.001£