Table 3 Multivariable analysis of risk factors associated with being underweight among children under five in Rwanda, DHS 2010

Child characteristics

Size at birth* by age in months

 Normal, <12

1

1

 Small, <12

2.56 [1.40, 4.69]

0.002

2.38 [1.32, 4.28]

0.004

 Not small size, 12–23

1

1

 Small size, 12–23

1.56 [0.84, 2.90]

0.161

1.36 [0.75, 2.47]

0.310

 Not small size, 24–35

1

1

 Small size, 24–35

2.49 [1.39, 4.21]

0.002

2.46 [1.45, 4.19]

0.001

 Not small size, 36–47

1

1

 Small size, 36–47

1.99 [1.01, 3.90]

0.045

2.16 [1.13, 4.15]

0.020

 Not small size, 48–59

1

1

 Small size, 48–59

2.25 [1.29, 3.93]

0.004

2.27 [1.31, 3.94]

0.003

Sex

 Boys

1.42 [1.13, 1.79]

0.003

1.42 [1.12, 1.79]

0.002

 Girls

1

1

Fever in last 2 weeks

 No

1

 Yes

1.44 [1.05, 1.97]

0.023

1.45 [1.07, 1.97]

0.016

Received drugs for intestinal parasites in last 6 months

 No

1

 Yes

1.19 [0.82, 1.74]

0.365

Diarrhea in previous 2 weeks

 No

1

 Yes

1.21 [0.86, 1.71]

0.274

Birth interval (from previous birth)

 Singleton first-born

1

1

 Singleton birth <2 years

1.12 [0.71, 1.76]

0.622

1.17 [0.76, 1.82]

0.476

 Singleton birth > =2 years

1.46 [0.95, 2.22]

0.082

1.69 [1.14, 2.51]

0.010

 Multiple births

3.56 [1.84, 6.86]

<0.001

4.04 [2.12, 7.71]

<0.001

Mother characteristics

Age

 15–24 years

1

 25–34 years

1.17 [0.73, 1.87]

0.506

1.17 [0.74, 1.84]

0.496

 35–49 years

1.65 [0.97, 2.80]

0.066

1.67 [1.04, 2.70]

0.035

Highest level of educational

 No education

3.14 [1.61, 6.12]

0.001

3.56 [1.83, 6.95]

0.001

 Primary

3.34 [1.78, 6.26]

<0.001

3.49 [1.87, 6.51]

<0.001

 Secondary or higher

1

1

Smoking

 No

1

 Yes

0.89 [0.53, 1.49]

0.649

Body mass index

  < 18.5

2.80 [1.78, 4.40]

<0.001

2.62 [1.70, 4.04]

<0.001

 18.5-24.9

1

1

 25.0-29.9

0.67 [0.45, 0.99]

0.046

0.66 [0.44, 0.98]

0.040

  > =30

1.16 [0.55, 2.47]

0.695

0.99 [0.45, 2.16]

0.978

Delivered by health care professional

 Yes

1

1

 No

1.26 [0.97, 1.63]

0.080

1.33 [1.04, 1.72]

0.025

Occupation

 Not working

2.00 [1.03, 3.88]

0.041

 Skilled worker

1

 Unskilled worker

1.32 [0.74, 2.35]

0.340

Marital status

 Single

1

 Married

1.06 [0.63, 1.80]

0.814

 Divorced/separated

1.68 [0.92, 3.08]

0.090

Household characteristics

Number of living children

 1–3

1

 4+

1.10 [0.82, 1.48]

0.517

Number of persons in household

 2–3

1

 4+

1.54 [1.02, 2.32]

0.039

Residence

 Urban

1

 Rural

1.11 [0.69, 1.78]

0.674

Wealth quintiles

 Wealthiest (top two quintiles)

1

 Middle

1.25 [0.85, 1.82]

0.252

1.32 [0.92, 1.91]

0.131

 Poorest (bottom two quintiles)

1.47 [1.06, 2.04]

0.020

1.71 [1.27, 2.30]

<0.001

Toilet is clean upon inspection

 No

1.09 [0.82, 1.45]

0.541

 Yes

1

Type of quality of toilet

 Unimproved shared

1.81 [1.09, 3.03]

0.023

 Improved shared

1.06 [0.71, 1.60]

0.770

 Improved not shared

1

 Unimproved not shared

1.14 [0.83, 1.55]

0.412

Proximity to improved water source

 Water on premise

1

  < 30 minutes

1.04 [0.47, 2.28]

0.926

  > =30 minutes

0.90 [0.41, 1.97]

0.788

Anything done to water to make safe to drink

 Yes

1

 No

1.24 [0.97, 1.60]

0.088