Table 1 Categories and operational definition of independent variables
| Â | Variables | Definitions/categories |
|---|---|---|
1 | Age (in years) | Age of the respondent (15–19, 20–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49) |
2 | Geographical region | This is the region of residence for a respondent (Kouilou, Niari, Lekoumou, Bouenza, Pool, Plateaux, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Sangha, Likouala, Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire) |
3 | Residential status | Area of residence (urban, rural) |
4 | Wealth quintilesa | Economic/wealth status of the household (poorest, poorer, middle, richer, richest) |
5 | Health insurance coverage | Insured, uninsured |
6 | Marital status | Never in union, currently in union/living with a man, formerly in union/lived with a man |
7 | Exposure to media | This was generated from whether a respondent used any of newspaper/magazine, radio or television (yes, no) |
8 | Education | Respondent’s formal level of education/schooling (no formal education, primary, secondary/higher (secondary+) |
9. | Religion | Protestant/Catholic, Islam, Spiritual |
10 | Ever used anything or tried to delay or avoid getting pregnant | The history of contraceptive use was measured dichotomously (yes, no) |
11 | Parity | Total number of children ever born (nil, 1–3, 4+) |
12 | Age (in years) at first birth | Age of a respondent when she had her first child (no birth, < 20, 20–24, 25+) |
13 | Age (in years) at first union/marriage | Age of a respondent when she entered a union/marriage (not married, < 20, 20–24, 25+) |
14 | Age at first sexual intercourse | Age of a respondent at sexual debut (< 18, 18+, at first union) |
15 | Total lifetime number of sex partners | Total number of men that a women had sexual relationship with (1–2, 3–4, 5+) |