Table 2 Characteristics of the study participants in SSA

Highest educational level

No formal education

150,444

42.75

Primary

107,002

30.40

Secondary

80,155

22.78

Higher

14,339

4.07

Maternal age

15–19

18,916

5.37

20–24

72,467

20.59

25–29

88,212

25.06

30–34

72,641

20.64

35–39

55,391

15.74

40–44

30,144

8.57

45–49

14,169

4.03

Media exposure

No

130,645

37.12

Yes

221,295

62.88

Marital status

Single

22,312

6.34

Married

305,901

86.92

Divorced/widowed

23,727

6.74

Sex of household head

Male

284,568

80.86

Female

67,372

19.14

Household wealth status

Poorest

79,815

22.68

Poorer

76,264

21.67

Middle

71,740

20.38

Richer

66,545

18.91

Richest

57,576

16.36

Birth order

1 st

81,902

23.27

2nd – 4 th

172,297

48.96

5 th or above

97,740

27.77

Age at first birth

 < 18

120,297

34.72

18–21

146,709

42.35

22–29

72,720

20.99

 ≥ 30

6,723

1.94

Preceding birth interval

First birth

84,653

24.05

 < 12 months

4,104

1.17

12–23 months

49,093

13.95

 ≥ 24 months

214,089

60.83

Respondent working status (n = 351,666)

No

123,612

35.15

Yes

228,054

64.85

Perceived distance to the health facility

Not a big problem

192,959

59.93

A big problem

129,025

40.07

Perceived birth size (n = 273,172)

Very large

34,076

12.47

Larger than average

58,098

21.27

Average

138,338

50.64

Smaller than average

27,996

10.25

Very small

14,663

5.37

The child is a twin or single birth

Single

339,583

96.49

Twin

12,357

3.51

ANC visit (n = 202,366)

No

23,080

11.41

Yes

179,285

88.59

Place of delivery

Home

96,606

27.45

Health facility

255,334

72.55

Neonatal mortality

No

342,311

97.26

Yes

9,626

2.74