Table 3 Log-binomial regression analysis (models I–IV) showing the effect of gestational diabetes mellitus on composite adverse maternal outcomes among women completed the follow up from pregnancy through to delivery in Gondar town public health facilities, Northwest Ethiopia March 2018- March, 2019 (n = 694)

GDM

Yes

64 (52.9)

57 (47.1)

1.79 (1.45, 2.21) ^***

1.71 (1.36, 2.14) ^***

1.70 (1.33, 2.17) ^***

1.58 (1.22, 2.04)^***

No

169 (29.5)

404 (70.5)

1

1

1

1

Maternal age (years )

< 25

54 (27.4)

143 (72.6)

1

1

1

1

25–29

82 (34)

159 (66)

1.24 (0.93, 1.65)

1.24 (0.94, 1.65)

1.24 (0.94, 1.65)

1.23 (0.93, 1.63)

30–34

59 (36.4)

103 (63.6)

1.33 (0.98, 1.80)

1.22 (0.89, 1.67)

1.22 (0.90, 1.67)

1.23 (0.90, 1.68)

≥ 35

38 (40.4)

56 (59.6)

1.47 (1.06, 2.06) *

1.32 (0.94, 1.85)

1.32 (0.94, 1.85)

1.35 (0.96, 1.89)

Educational level

Not formal education

37 (27.6)

97 (72.4)

1

1

1

1

Primary education

54 (34.8)

101 (65.2)

1.26 (0.89, 1.79)

1.33 (0.94, 1.87)

1.33 (0.94, 1.88)

1.34 (0.95, 1.88)

Secondary education and above

142 (35.1)

263 (64.9)

1.27 (0.94, 1.72)

1.32 (0.96, 1.80)

1.32 (0.96, 1.81)

1.31 (0.96, 1.80)

Employment status

Employed

104 (37.8)

171 (62.2)

1.23 (1.00, 1.51)

1.07 (0.86, 1.34)

1.08 (0.86, 1.34)

1.09 (0.88, 1.36)

Unemployed

129 (30.8)

290 (69.2)

1

1

1

MUAC

MUAC < 28 cm

187 (32.5)

389 (67.5)

1

1

1

1

MUAC ≥ 28 cm

46 (39)

72 (61)

1.20 (0.93, 1.55)

1.05 (0.82, 1.36)

1.06 (0.82, 1.37)

1.05 (0.81, 1.36)

Dietary diversity status

Adequate

103 (32)

219 (68)

1

1

1

Inadequate

130 (34.9)

242 (65.1)

1.09 (0.88, 1.35)

1.01 (0.82, 1.25)

0.94 (0.83, 1.27)

Level of physical activity

High

66 (31.7)

142 (68.3)

1

1

1

Moderate

101(31.9)

216 (68.1)

1.01 (0.78,1.30)

0.95 (0.74, 1.23)

0.94 (0.73, 1.21)

Low

66 (39.1)

103 (60.9)

1.23 (0.94, 1.62)

0.98 (0.73, 1.30)

1.00 (0.75, 1.33)

Antenatal depression

Yes

34 (48.6)

36 (51.4)

1.52 (1.17, 1.99) ^**

1.28 (0.97, 1.68)

No

199 (31.9)

425 (68.1)

1

1