Table 3 Nested shared frailty survival analysis factors affecting under-five death using the recent 2019 MEDHS data. (n = 5772)

Child sex

Male

1

1

1

Female

0.86 (0.66—1.14)

0.85 (0.65—1.11)

0.86 (0.65 -1.13)

Plurality

Single

1

1

1

Multiple

6.72 (4.23—0.69)

5.54 (3.70—8.30)

7.03 (4.40 -11.24) ***

Immediate breastfed status

 > 1 h

1

1

1

 ≤ 1 h

0.41 (0.28—0.60)

0.44 (0.30—0.64)

0.41 (0.28—0.61) ***

Birth interval

 ≥ 24 months

1

1

1

18–23 months

1.63 (1.12 -2.37)

1.65 (1.15—2.38)

1.62 (1.12 -2.36) *

 < 18 months

2.74 (1.94—3.87)

2.85 (2.05—3.95)

2.73 (1.93 -3.86) **

Birth order

 ≤ three

1

1

1

 ≥ four

1.31 (0.94—1.83)

1.27 (0.92—1.75)

1.32 (0.95 -1.84)

Teenage pregnancy

No

1

1

1

Yes

1.68 (1.00—2.84)

1.52 (0.92—2.51)

1.70 (1.01—2.87) *

Place of delivery

Health facility

1

1

1

Home

0.93 (0.66 -1.33)

1.04 (0.75—1.44)

0.94 (0.66 -1.34)

ANC visit

No

1

1

1

At least one ANC

0.75 (0.51 -1.10)

0.74 (0.51—1.08)

0.75 (0.51—1.10)

Maternal education

No education

1

1

1

Primary

1.21 (0.86 -1.69)

1.22 (0.89—1.67)

1.21 (0.86—1.68)

Secondary & above

0.62 (0.28 -1.33)

0.61 (0.29—1.26)

0.62 (0.28—1.33)

Residence

Urban

1

1

1

Rural

0.78 (0.45—1.36)

0.73 (0.47—1.14)

0.77 (0.44—1.35)

Household wealth index

Poor

1

1

1

Middle

1.25 (0.79—1.97)

1.19 (0.78—1.82)

1.25 (0.79—1.96)

Rich

1.30 (0.82—2.04)

1.12 (0.74—1.68)

1.29 (0.82—2.04)

Water source

Improved

1

1

1

Unimproved

1.46 (0.72 -2.96)

1.51 (0.80—2.85)

1.47 (0.73—2.99)

Penalized log-likelihood

-1196.98

-1216.26

-1159.67

Region level frailty θ (p-value)

0.036 (0.2)

0.007 (0.009)

Cluster level frailty θ (p-value)

0.88 (< 0.001)

0.91 (< 0.001)