Table 3 Propensity score matched univariate and multivariable results for children 6–59 months in Malawi in 2012

Region

 Northern

1.00

1.00

1.00

 Central

2.33 (1.22, 4.48), 0.01

1.92 (1.26, 2.92), <0.01

1.92 (1.03, 3.55), 0.04

 Southern

1.32 (0.69, 2.56), 0.394

0.96 (0.58, 1.59), 0.88

0.96 (0.48, 1.91), 0.91

Type of place of residence

 Urban

1.00

1.00

1.00

 Rural

2.74 (1.55, 4.88), <0.01

1.58 (0.97, 2.56), 0.07

1.58 (0.84, 2.94), 0.15

Cluster altitude in kilometers

1.11 (0.59, 2.06), 0.75

0.75 (0.44, 1.29), 0.30

0.75 (0.31, 1.84), 0.53

1.24 (0.87, 1.62), <0.01

Position of child in household

 1

1.00

1.00

1.00

1.03 (1.01, 1.05), <0.01

 2

1.91 (1.39, 2.63), <0.01

1.49 (1.05, 2.10), 0.02

1.49 (1.04, 2.14), 0.03

 3

1.73 (0.73, 4.09), 0.21

1.12 (0.41, 3.08), 0.82

1.12 (0.42, 2.99), 0.82

Child’s age in months

1.01 (1.01, 1.02), <0.01

1.03 (1.02, 1.04), <0.01

1.03 (1.02, 1.04), <0.01

Child’s altitude adjusted haemoglobin level

0.95 (0.94, 0.96), < 0.01

0.94 (0.93, 0.95), < 0.01

0.94 (0.93, 0.95), <0.01

Mother’s highest education level

 None

1.00

1.00

1.00

0.50 (0.28, 0.71), <0.01

 Primary

0.45 (0.31, 0.66), <0.01

0.50 (0.32, 0.77), <0.01

0.50 (0.32, 0.76), <0.01

 Secondary

0.40 (0.14, 1.19), 0.10

0.71 (0.20, 2.52), 0.60

0.71 (0.19, 2.71), 0.62

Wealth index score

0.91 (0.88, 0.95), <0.01

0.96 (0.92, 0.99), 0.01

0.96 (0.92, 0.99), 0.01

Children slept under mosquito bed net

 No

1.00

1.00

1.00

 Yes

1.07 (0.77, 1.50), 0.69

0.77 (0.58, 1.01), 0.06

0.77 (0.56, 1.04), 0.09

Time to get to water source

0.98 (0.96, 1.00), 0.07

0.97 (0.95, 0.99), <0.01

0.97 (0.95, 0.99), <0.01