Table 1 Individual and community level characteristics of study participants in high fertility sub Saharan Africa countries (n = 43,745)

Age in years

15–24

9576(21.89)

3231(33.74)

25–34

18,806(42.99)

7792(41.43)

35 -49

15,363(35.12)

6269(40.80)

Household wealth index

Poorest

6862(15.69)

1750(25.50)

poorer

7853(17.95)

2311(29.43)

Middle

8547(19.54)

2914(34.10)

Richer

9620(21.99)

4139(43.02)

Richest

10,863(24.63)

6177(56.86)

Educational status of the women

No formal education

19,492(44.56)

5658(29.03)

Primary

10,936(25.00)

4255(38.91)

Secondary and higher

13,317(30.44)

7378(55.40)

Husband education

No formal education

17,657(40.40)

5144(29.13)

Primary

8499(19.45)

3377(39.74)

Secondary and higher

17,551(40.16)

8757(49.89)

Occupational status of the women

Working

30,632(70.12)

12,821(41.86)

Not working

13,055(29.88)

4456(34.14)

Number of household members

Below 5

16,574(37.89)

7268(43.85)

5 and above

27,171(62.11)

10,023(36.89)

Number of children in the household

0

3899(8.91)

2229(57.17)

1–3

36,000(82.29)

14,029(38.97)

4–6

3433(7.85)

949(27.64)

Above 6

414(0.95)

85(20.46)

Sex of household head

Male

38,464(87.93)

15,455(40.18)

Female

5281(17.07)

1836(34.77)

Media exposure

Yes

29,241(67.01)

13,133(44.91)

No

14,398(32.99)

4120(28.61)

Distance to the health facility

Big problem

14,363(34.76)

4869(33.90)

Not big problem

26,951(65.24)

11,991(44.49)

Residence

Urban

16,651(38.06)

8206(49.28)

Rural

27,094(61.94)

9086(33.53)

Community level education

High

19,982(45.68)

10,500(44.19)

Low

23,763(54.32)

6791(33.99)

Community level poverty

High

5177(11.84)

1489(28.77)

Low

38,568(88.16)

15,802(40.97)

Community level media exposure

High

21,775(49.78)

9628(43.82)

Low

21,970(50.22)

7663(35.18)