Table 2 Maternal determinants of optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices, Malawi 2015–2016

 Ethnicity

 Chewa

1

1

 Tumbuka

0.97 (0.31–3.08)

1.39 (0.79–2.46)

 Lomwe

1.20 (0.27–5.30)

0.66 (0.38–1.15)

 Yao

0.98 (0.29–3.32)

0.65 (0.36–1.16)

 Ngoni

0.86 (0.25–2.97)

0.58 (0.33–0.99)*

 Other

2.40 (0.49–12.03)

0.61 (0.32–1.15)

 Number of children

1.12 (1.02–1.23)*

 Region

 Northern

1

1

 Central

0.64 (0.43–0.95)*

0.95 (0.55–1.65)

 Southern

1.12 (0.76–1.67)

1.74 (1.04–2.92)*

 Area of residence

 Rural

1

1

1

 Urban

0.46 (0.29–0.72)***

13.50 (4.25–42.89)****

1.08 (0.52–2.26)

 Maternal height

 Height ≤ 150 cm

1

 Height > 150 cm

1.51 (1.06–2.15)*

 Maternal BMI

 BMI < 18.5 kg/m²

1

BMI ≥ 18.5 kg/m²

2.76 (1.02–7.46)*

 Home

1

 Government

0.72 (0.18–2.93)

 Private

1.28 (0.20–8.10)

 Vaginal delivery

1

 Caesarean delivery

0.32 (0.20–0.51)****

 No

1

1

 Yes

1.55 (0.61–3.89)

0.59 (0.41–0.85)*

 Does not own

1

1

 Owns

1.02 (0.74–1.41)

1.64 (0.49–5.44)

 Poorest

1

1

1

 Poorer

0.95 (0.64–1.43)

0.77 (0.17–3.43)

1.27 (0.59–2.69)

 Middle

0.94 (0.63–1.41)

0.66 (0.18–2.42)

1.49 (0.75–2.96)

 Richer

1.16 (0.72–1.86)

0.49 (0.12–2.25)

1.82 (0.85–3.89)

 Richest

0.97 (0.59–1.60)

2.12 (0.40–11.23)

5.11 (2.12–12.33)***

 Respondent alone

1

 Respondent and husband/partner

0.68 (0.40–1.13)

 Husband/partner alone

0.59 (0.35–1.01)

 Respondent alone

1

 Respondent and husband/partner

1.25 (0.79–1.97)

 Husband/partner alone

1.48 (0.93–2.37)

TV

 Not at all

1

1

 Rarely (Less than once a week)

0.62 (0.17–2.25)

0.72 (0.33–1.59)

 At least once a week

0.35 (0.09–1.29)

1.28 (0.54–3.07)

 Not at all

1

1

 Rarely (Less than once a week)

2.59 (1.65–4.07)****

0.52 (0.36–0.80)*

 At least once a week

2.56 (1.57–4.23)***

0.48 (0.29–0.77)*