Table 2 Bivariate analysis of EBF practice by characteristics of infants and mothers in Ethiopia, EMDHS 2019 (n = 566)

Sex of child

Female

246(83.11)

50(16.89)

1

Male

224(82.96)

46(17.07)

0.36

0.10(0.64–1.536)

Birth order

1st

104(79.39)

27(20.61)

1

2nd -3nd

158(85.41)

27(14.59)

0.27

2.12(0.93–4.82)

4th and above

208(83.20)

42(16.80)

0.03^a

4.53(1.64–12.52)

Initiation of breastfeeding

≤ 1 h

410(88.17)

55(11.83)

1

> 1 h

60(59.41)

41(40.59)

0.51

1.87(0.31–11.40 )

Age of mother in years

15–24

168(84.42)

31(15.58)

1

25–34

233(82.33)

50(17.67)

0.64

1.18(0.60–2.32)

35+

69(82.14)

15(17.86)

0.97

1.01(0.54–1.91 )

Maternal educational level

No education

221(79.50)

57(20.50)

1

Primary

169(87.56)

24(12.44)

0.04^a

1.29(1.24–1.34)

Secondary

55(85.94)

9(14.06)

0.03^a

1.50(1.44–1.553 )

Higher

25(80.65)

6(19.35)

0.03^a

2.60(0.55–12.27)

Marital status

Never in union

7(87.50)

1(12.50)

1

Currently in union

450(82.87)

93(17.13)

0.96

1.08(0.08–14.08)

Widowed/separated

13(86.67)

2(13.33)

0.70

0.74(0.17–3.35)

Religion

Orthodox

142(90.45)

15(9.55)

1

Protestant

94(92.16)

8(7.84)

0.45

2.37 (0.25–22.57)

Muslim

230(76.16)

72(23.84)

0.36

2.94 (0.29–29.51)

Others

4(80)

1(20)

0.84

0.80 (0.09–7.26)

Place of residence

Rural

369(82.74)

77(17.26)

1

Urban

101(84.17)

19(15.83)

0.01^a

0.37(0.20–0.68)

Region

Dire Dawa

32(76.19)

10(23.81)

1

Tigray

53(94.64)

3(5.36)

0.27

0.46(0.11–1.86)

Afar

42(63.64)

24(36.36)

0.28

2.52(047-13.52)

Amhara

42(95.45)

2(4.55)

0.04^a

0.25(0.07–0.93)

Oromia

67(91.78)

6(8.22)

0.28

3.00(0.47–19.35)

Somalia

29(48.33)

31(51.67)

0.03^a

0.60(0.50–0.71)

Benshangul Gummuz

51(100)

0(0)

0.04^a

0.13(0.04–0.50)

SNNPR

54(93.10)

4(6.90)

0.91

1.51(0.96–2.35)

Gambela

45(91.84)

4(8.16)

0.42

1.33(0.28–6.26)

Harari

34(79.07)

9(20.93)

0.56

1.61(0.33–7.83)

Addis Ababa

21(87.50)

3 (12.50)

0.03^a

1.85(1.18–2.90)

Household wealth index

Poor

235(79.93)

59(20.07)

1

Middle

63(87.50)

9(12.50)

0.28

0.65(0.40–1.06)

Rich

172(86)

28(14)

0.75

1.14(0.51–2.55)

Family size

<=5

215(84.98)

38(15.02)

1

> 5

255(81.47)

58(18.53)

0.00^a

0.46(0.25–0.83)

Parity

1–2

189(81.12)

44(18.88)

1

3–4

134(87.58)

19(12.42)

0.89

0.96(0.59–1.59)

5+

147(81.67)

33(18.33)

0.34

1.58(0.86–2.92)

Antenatal visits

0

111(73.51)

40(26.49)

1

1–3

160(86.49)

25(13.51)

0.01^a

1.35(1.15–1.55)

4+

199(86.52)

31(13.48)

0.00^a

3.83(1.68–8.75)

PNC check within 2 months

No

425(83.01)

87(16.99)

1

Yes

45(83.33)

9(16.67)

0.95

0.98(0.46–2.07)

Caesarean delivery

No

443(83.74)

86(16.26)

1

Yes

27(72.97)

10(27.03)

0.02^a

0.60(0.58–0.73)

Place of delivery

Home

195(76.47)

60(23.53)

1

Health facility

275(88.42)

36(11.58)

0.04^a

2.43(1.06–5.54)

Counseling on breastfeeding by health provider during first 2 days of a birth

No

297(80.71)

71(19.29)

1

Yes

173(87.37)

25(12.63)

0.02^a

2.20 (1.42–3.38)