Table 3 Bivariable and multivariable multilevel analysis of factors associated with seeking behavior of diarrhea among paired mothers and under-five children in the Gambia, GDHS 2019-20(n = 1,403)

Sex of the child

 Male

1

1

 Female

0.78(0.61,0.99)

0.79(0.62,0.98) *

The current age of the child in the year

 0–1

1

1

 2–3

0.72(0.47,1.09)

0.77(0.51,1.17)

 4–5

0.69(0.39,1.21)

0.69(0.39,1.21)

Birth weight

 Smaller than average

1.60(1.13,2.26)

1.53(1.08,2.16) *

 Average

1.32(1.02,1.71)

1.31(1.01,1.69) *

 Larger than average

1

1

 Child had cough

 No

1

1

 Yes

1.41(1.07,1.86)

1.44(1.09,1.89) *

 Child had fever

 No

1

1

 Yes

1.66(1.27,2.15)

1.73(1.33,2.25) *

 Heard oral rehydration

 No

1

1

 Yes

2.42(1.24,4.69)

2.21(1.14,4.30) *

Duration of breastfeeding

 Ever breastfed/not currently breastfed

0.46(0.11,1.96)

0.48(0.12,2.02)

 Never breastfed

1

1

 Still breastfed

0.40(0.09,1.72)

0.43(0.101,1.81)

Husband/partner education

 Not educated

1

1

 Educated

0.81(0.62,1.05)

0.85(0.65,1.11)

Listening to radio

 No

1

1

 Yes

1.37(1.07,1.75)

1.34(1.05,1.72) *

Wealth of household

 Poorest

1

1

 Poorer

1.16(0.82,1.65)

1.32(0.91,1.91)

 Middle

1.56(1.06,2.29)

2.15(1.32,3.51) *

 Richer

1.27(0.84,1.91)

1.92(1.11,3.32) *

 Richest

0.95(0.59,1.52)

1.63(0.88,2.99)

Under five children number

 0–1

1

1

 2–3

1.22(0.87,1.72)

1.16(0.82,1.63)

 >=4

1.23(0.87,1.75)

1.07(0.74,1.53)

Marital status

 Single

1

1

 Married

1.78(1.09,2.89)

1.56(0.96,2.53)

Visited by the field worker

 No

1

1

 Yes

1.29(0.95,1.75)

1.22(0.90,1.65)

 Region

 Banjul

1

1

 Kanifing

0.93(0.52,1.68)

0.99(0.54,1.84,)

 Brikama

1.11(0.64,1.91)

1.14(0.64,2.02)

 Mansakonko

0.96(0.46,2.01)

0.87(0.40,1.87)

 Kerewan

2.96(1.35,6.49)

2.99(1.32,6.78) *

 Kuntaur

1.81(0.84,3.89)

1.74(0.78,3.88)

 Janjanbureh

1.18(0.57,2.44)

1.04(0.48,2.23)

 Basse

2.02(0.97,4.18)

1.87(0.86,4.04)

Community-level women education

 Low

1

1

 High

0.84(0.61,1.16)

0.84(0.60,1.18)

Community postnatal check

 Low

1

1

 High

1.44(1.06,1.95)

1.48(1.08,2.02) *

Community-level women’s wealth status

 Low

1

1

 High

0.78(0.50,1.20)

1.08(0.65,1.79)

The community heard family planning from HCPs

 Low

1

1

 High

1.23(0.91,1.65)

1.23(0.91,1.66)

Place of residence

 Urban

1

1

 Rural

0.98(0.58,1.66)

1.02(0.59,1.77)

Random effect/ measures of variation and model fitness/

 Community-level variance

0.45(0.25,0.81)

0.43(0.23,0.82)

0.24(0.11,0.53)

0.23(0.09,0.54)

  ICC (%)

12.05

11.67

6.67

6.52

  MOR (95% CI)

1.90(1.54,2.26)

1.88(1.50,2.25)

1.59(1.29,1.89)

1.58(1.27,1.89)

  PCV (%)

Reference

4.45

46.67

48.89

  LR

-974.07

-933.42

-948.97

-909.17

  DIC (2LLR)

1,948.14

1,866.84

1,897.94

1,818.34

  AIC

1952.14

1910.84

1925.95

1886.34