Does Birth Interval Matter in Under-Five Mortality? Evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys from Eight Countries in West Africa

Table 2

Characteristics of respondents and under-five mortality rate in West Africa.

Variables	Weighted	Weighted %	Under-five mortality
Birth interval
≤2 years	7681	14.5	108 [96-120]
>2 years	45196	85.5	68 [63-73]
Place of residence
Urban	18096	34.2	56 [50-61]
Rural	34780	65.8	85 [77-94]
Wealth quintile
Poorest	10700	20.2	95 [81-106]
Poorer	11067	20.9	93 [80-105]
Middle	11009	20.8	75 [66-84]
Richer	10541	19.9	71 [61-80]
Richest	9560	18.1	40 [33-47]
Mother’s age
<20 years	2705	5.1	108 [80-136]
20-29 years	24461	46.3	67 [60-74]
30-49 years	25711	48.6	77 [72-82]
Mother’s age at first birth
<20 years	30572	57.8	84 [78-90]
20-29 years	21136	40.0	63 [55-70]
30-49 years	1169	2.2	47 [31-62]
Partner’s age
<30 years	7746	14.7	78 [60-95]
30-39 years	20743	39.2	62 [57-68]
40-49 years	15802	29.9	74 [66-82]
50+ years	8586	16.2	94 [85-103]
Religion
Christian	13881	26.2	62 [55-69]
Islam	31390	59.4	82 [75-89]
Others	7606	14.4	69 [57-80]
Educational level
No education	31565	59.7	88 [80-96]
Primary	8895	16.8	69 [60-78]
Secondary	10423	19.7	47 [40-53]
Higher	1993	3.8	39 [30-48]
Employment status
Unemployed	9150	17.3	62 [51-73]
Employed	43727	82.7	77 [72-82]
Partner’s employment status
Unemployed	1092	2.1	44 [27-61]
Employed	51785	97.9	75 [71-80]
Exposure to mass media
Not exposed	17382	32.9	82 [75-90]
Exposed	35.495	67.1	71 [66-76]
Current pregnancy intended
Then	39061	743.8	79 [73-85]
Later	3130	5.9	66 [53-79]
No more	10730	20.3	63 [54-72]
Sex of child
Male	26958	51.0	81 [75-87]
Female	25919	49.0	68 [62-74]
Size of child at birth
Very large	6538	12.4	63 [51-76]
Larger than average	12732	24.1	66 [56-75]
Average	26054	49.3	75 [69-81]
Smaller than average	5626	10.6	94 [80-109]
Very small	1927	3.6	114 [91-138]
Birth order
First	8414	15.9	71 [62-79]
2-3	18353	34.7	53 [48-60]
4 or more	26110	49.4	88 [82-95]
Sexual autonomy
No	11263	21.3	82 [69-95]
Yes	41614	78.7	72 [68-77]
Type of birth
Virginal birth	50896	96.3	74 [69-79]
Caesarean birth	1981	3.7	90 [65-114]
Place of delivery
Home	17035	32.2	103 [92-113]
Health facility	35842	67.8	61 [56-66]
Delivery assistance
TBA/others	12335	23.3	107 [94-121]
SBA/health professionals	40542	76.7	65 [59-70]
ANC attendance
No	22487	42.5	89 [82-96]
Yes	30390	57.5	65 [59-70]
Mother experience IPV
No	43965	83.1	74 [69-79]
Yes	8912	16.9	77 [63-91]
Contraceptive use
No	42958	81.2	84 [76-91]
Yes	9919	18.8	42 [35-49]