Table 4 Predictors of suboptimal birth spacing among childbearing women in 35 SSA countries, 2010–2021

Residence

 Urban

43,847 (35.4)

28,142 (28.9)

1.00

1.00

 Rural

79,989 (64.6)

69,120 (71.1)

1.19 (1.16, 1.20)

1.10 (1.12, 1.15)*

Distance to a health facility

 Not a big problem

73,971 (61.3)

54,355 (57.9)

1.00

1.00

 Big problem

46,627 (38.7)

39,446 (42.1)

1.08 (1.06, 1.09)

1.00 (0.98, 1.05)

Decision on healthcare utilization

 Has participation

74,644 (60.3)

52,410 (53.9)

1.00

1.00

 No participation

49,145 (39.7)

44,815 (46.1)

1.16 (1.14, 1.17)

1.02 (0.99, 1.04)

Current age

 35–49

59,480 (48.0)

36,061 (37.1)

1.00

1.00

 25–34

53,470 (43.2)

43,451 (44.7)

1.19 (1.17, 1.20)

1.31(1.29, 1.33)*

 15–24

10,886 (8.8)

17,750 (18.2)

1.64 (1.62, 1.17)

2.05 (2.01, 2.09)*

Husband education

 Higher education

44,293 (35.8)

29,236 (30.1)

1.00

1.00

 Primary education

35,833 (28.9)

28,596 (29.4)

1.12 (1.09, 1.13)

1.02 (1.01, 1.04)*

 No formal education

43,607 (35.2)

39,359 (40.5)

1.19 (1.17, 1.21)

1.04 (1.02, 1.06)*

Media exposure

 Exposed

84,205 (68.1)

60,570 (62.4)

1.00

1.00

 Not exposed

39,504 (31.9)

36,565 (37.6)

1.14 (1.13, 1.16)

1.08 (1.07, 1.11)*

Household wealth

 Rich

52,529 (42.4)

33,357 (34.3)

1.00

1.00

 Middle

24,832 (20.1)

19,962 (20.5)

1.15 (1.13, 1.17)

1.03 (1.01, 1.05)*

 Poor

46,475 (37.5)

43,943 (45.2)

1.25 (1.23, 1.27)

1.06 (1.05, 1.08)*

Ever used contraceptives

 Yes

69,869 (56.4)

44,001 (45.2)

1.00

1.00

 No

53,967 (43.6)

53,261 (54.8)

1.28 (1.27, 1.30)

1.18 (1.16, 1.20)*

Unmet family planning need

 No

96,509 (77.9)

72,982 (75.1)

1.00

1,00

 Yes

27,310 (22.1)

24,268 (24.9)

1.09 (1.08, 1.11)

1.04 (1.03, 1.06)*

Birth order

  ≤ 3

53,168 (42.9)

38,388 (39.5)

1.00

1.00

  ≥ 4

70,668 (57.1)

58,874 (60.5)

1.08 (1.07, 1.10)

1.31 (1.28, 1.34)*

Ideal number of children

  ≤ 5

71,975 (58.1)

46,994 (48.3)

1.00

1.00

  ≥ 6

51,861 (41.9)

50,268 (51.7)

1.25 (1.23, 1.26)

1.14 (1.13, 1.16)*