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Table 2 Health Behaviors and Outcomes associated with Cell Phone Ownership (n = 174). Effect estimate is Odds of Outcome predicted by Cell Phone Ownership (Yes vs No(ref))

From: Exploring association of mobile phone access with positive health outcomes and behaviors amongst post-partum mothers in rural Malawi

Behavior/Outcome

Owns Cell Phone

(n = 79)

Does not Own a Cell Phone

(n = 95)

 

Total

(n = 174)

Crude

Odds Ratio, 95% CI

Education-adjusted

Odds Ratio, 95% CI

Number of Antenatal Visits for current child’s pregnancy

Range 1–8

Mean 3.9 (± 1.09 SD)

 ≥ 4 visits

50 (63.3%)

67 (70.5%)

(p = 0.31)

117 (67.2%)

0.72 (0.38–1.36; p = 0.31)

0.69 (0.36–1.32; p = 0.26)

 ≤ 3 visits (ref)

29 (36.7%)

28 (29.5%)

 

57 (32.8%)

Exclusively Breastfeeding current child

Yes

3 (4.5%)

12 (15.2%)

 

15 (10.3%)

0.26 (0.07–0.97; p = 0.045)*

0.25 (0.07–0.92; p = 0.038)*

No (ref)

64 (95.5%)

67 (84.8%)

(p = 0.03)*

131 (89.7%)

Missing**

12 (15.2%)

16 (16.8%)

 

28 (16.1%)

Knows to exclusively breastfeeding for at least 6 months)

Yes

69 (87.3%)

78 (82.1%)

 

147 (84.5%)

1.50 (0.65–3.50; p = 0.34)

1.35 (0.57–3.21; p = 0.50)

No (ref)

10 (12.7%)

17 (17.9%)

(p = 0.34)

27 (15.5%)

Problems with Breastfeeding in last 4 weeks)

Yes

33 (41.8%)

33 (34.7%)

(p = 0.34)

66 (37.9%)

1.35 (0.73–2.50; p = 0.34)

1.31 (0.70–2.50; p = 0.40)

No (ref)

46 (58.2%)

62 (65.3%)

 

108 (62.1%)

Discussed Breastfeeding problems with healthcare provider (amongst those with problems only, n = 66)

 

n = 33

n = 33

 

66

  

Yes

11 (35.5%)

12 (37.5%)

 

23 (36.5%)

0.92 (0.33–2.56; p = 0.87)

0.75 (0.26–2.21; p = 0.60)

No (ref)

20 (64.5%)

20 (62.5%)

(p = 0.87)

40 (63.5%)

Missing**

2 (6.5%)

1 (3.1%)

 

3 (4.5%)

In last 4 weeks, child has had any diarrhea, cough with trouble breathing, malaria or fever

Yes

63 (79.8%)

70 (73.7%)

(p = 0.35)

133 (76.4%)

1.41 (0.69–2.87; p = 0.35)

1.38 (0.67–2.86; p = 0.39)

No (ref)

16 (20.3%)

25 (26.3%)

 

41 (23.6%)

Sought treatment for child’s illness (amongst those with problems only, n = 133)

 

n = 63

n = 70

 

133

  

Yes

50 (79.4%)

51 (72.9%)

(p = 0.38)

101(75.9%)

1.43 (0.64–3.21; p = 0.38)

1.31 (0.57–3.00; p = 0.52)

No (ref)

13 (20.6%)

19 (27.1%)

 

32 (24.1%)

Depressive Symptoms in post-partum period

Yes, meets clinical depression cutoff

(score ≥ 8 on SRQ)

14 (17.7%)

20 (21.1%)

(p = 0.58)

34 (19.5%)

0.81 (0.38–1.73; p = 0.58)

0.84 (0.39–1.84; p = 0.67)

No, does not meet clinical depression cutoff on SRQ

(score < 8) (ref)

65 (82.3%)

75 (79.0%)

 

140 (80.5%)

Involved in any Motherhood Support Groups

Yes

47 (60.3%)

56 (59.0%)

 

103 (59.5%)

1.06 (0.57–1.94; p = 0.86)

1.14 (0.61–2.13; p = 0.70)

No (ref)

31 (39.7%)

39 (41.1%)

(p = 0.86)

70 (40.5%)

Missing**

1(1.3%)

0 (0.0%)

 

1 (0.6%)

  1. *Statistically significant at p < 0.05 level
  2. **Missing not included in effect estimates