Table 2 Characteristics of mothers of children aged 6–23 months in Ethiopia, 2019

Maternal education

No education

650.09

44.45

Primary

609.22

41.65

Secondary

119.73

8.19

Higher

83.56

5.71

Respondent’s current age

15–24

472.64

32.31

25–34

724.94

49.56

35–49

265.03

18.12

Marital status

Never in union

5.82

0.40

Currently married

1394.30

95.33

Formerly married

62.48

4.27

Religion

Muslim

474.20

32.42

Orthodox

538.54

36.82

Protestant

412.70

28.22

Others

37.16

2.54

Family size

≤5

804.51

55.01

> 5

658.11

44.99

Owned radio or television

No

943.80

64.53

Yes

518.80

35.47

Wealth index

Low income

603.90

41.29

Medium income

275.42

18.83

High income

583.30

39.88

Parity

Primiparous

349.63

23.90

Multiparous

728.38

49.80

Grand multiparous

384.59

26.30

ANC visits attended in index pregnancy

None

345.50

23.62

1–3

450.67

30.81

4 or more visits

666.43

45.56

Place of delivery

Health facility

805.76

55.09

Home

656.85

44.91

PNC checkup

No

1311.73

89.76

Yes

149.61

10.24

Current age of child in months

6–11

476.07

32.55

12–17

551.31

37.69

18–23

435.23

29.76

Sex of child

Male

763.83

52.22

Female

698.77

47.78

Birth order

First-born

353.60

24.18

Second-fourth

691.05

47.25

Fifth or more

417.96

28.58

Preceding birth interval

<  24 months

222.96

15.24

≥ 24 months

1239.64

84.76

Number of under 5 children in household

No child

5.71

0.39

1–2

1309.27

89.52

3 and above

147.62

10.09

Currently breastfeeding

No

216.51

14.80

Yes

1246.11

85.20

Region

Agrarian

1296.52

88.64

Pastoralist

108.92

7.45

City administration

57.17

3.91

Place of residence

Urban

412.92

28.23

Rural

1049.69

71.77