Table 2 Description of variables and measurement for the study, Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia, September 2012-April 2013

Place of residence

The usual place of residence where the woman lives

Rural kebele was coded as ‘1’ and Urban kebele was coded as ‘2’.

Average distance from health centre

Approximate distance of respondent’s home from the nearest health centre on foot in munities as reported by respondent.

Average distance was computed for each kebele and dichotomized as ‘≤2hours = 1’ and ‘>2hours = 2’

Average distance from Hospital

Approximate distance of respondent’s home from the nearest hospital on foot in munities as reported by the respondent.

Average distance was computed for each kebele and categorized as ‘≤2 hours = 1’, ‘>2 hours =2’

Level-1 predictor variables

Individual and household characteristics

Age

Age of women at interview in completed years

Categorized in to 7 groups by five-years interval, which later recoded in to three categories: ‘<20 = 1’, ‘20-29 = 2’ or ‘>29 = 3’

Ethnicity

The ethnic background of the respondent

Each ethnicity was entered and later recoded as ‘Oromo = 1’ and ‘Others = 2’. Others were merged because they were very few for logistic regressions.

Religion

The religious background of the respondent

Each religion was entered and later recoded as ‘Muslim = 1’ or ‘Others = 2’. Others were merged because they were very few for logistic regressions.

Educational status

Highest level of education attained by the respondent and her husband

Categorized in to 4 groups as ‘No Formal Education = 1’, ‘primary (1-8) = 2’, ‘Secondary or above (9⁺ = 3)

Occupational status

Current employment status and specific occupation of respondent and her husband

Categorized as ‘housewife’ (‘farmer’ for husbands) = 1, ‘employed = 2’, and ‘merchant = 3’

Wealth quintiles

Using EDHS questionnaire, house hold assets ownership were assessed and wealth index was computed by using principal component analysis

The wealth status was categorized in to five groups and ranked from poorest to wealthiest quintiles. ’First quintile =1’, ‘Second quintile = 2’, ‘Third quintile = 3, ‘Fourth quintile = 4’ and ‘Fifth quintile = 5’.

Birth order

Number of births a woman ever had including current birth

The responses was categorized in to three categories as: ‘1^st birth order =1’, ‘2^nd – 4^th = 2’ and ‘≥5^th birth order = 3’

Preceding birth interval

The duration between the current birth and the preceding birth in months.

The responses were categorized in to three as: ‘<24 months = 1’, ‘24-48 months = 2” and “>48 months = 3’.