Table 3 Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis of factors associated with prelacteal feeding among mothers having children less than 24 months of age in Mettu district Southwestern, Ethiopia, 2018 (n = 719)

Educational status

 No formal

24 (33.80%)

47 (66.20%)

3.732 (2.162, 6.440)*

3.537 (1.793, 6.978)**

 Formal

78 (12.04%)

570 (87.96%)

1.00

Family type

 Nuclear

74 (12.96%

497 (87.04%)

1.00

1.975 (0.860, 4.537)

 Single parents

14 (14.43%)

83 (85.57%)

1.33 (0.611,2.099)

.837 (0.376, 1.861)

 Extended

14 (27.45%)

37 (72.55%)

1.487 (1.087, 2.033)*

Sex of index child

 Male

72 (16.71%)

359 (83.29%)

0.580 (.368, .914)*

1.500 (0.864, 2.605)

 Female

30 (10.42%)

258 (89.58%)

1.0

Residence

 Rural

92 (15.46%)

503 (84.54%)

0.480 (0.242, 0.950)*

1.908 (0.827, 4.404)

 Urban

10 (8.06%)

114 (91.94%)

1.00

Number of ANC

 1st

35 (42.17%)

48 (57.83%)

0.468 (0.365, 0.600)*

6.872 (3.206, 14.72)**

 2–3

44 (10.02%)

294 (86.98%)

2.192 (1.222,3.933)*

 ≥ 4

17 (6.39%)

249 93.61%)

1.00

Counseling on breastfeeding

 Yes

59 (10.41%)

508 (89.59%)

1.00

1.529 (0.809, 2.889)

 No

43 (28.29%)

109 (71.71%)

3.397 (2.179, 5.296)*

Know risks of prelacteal feeds

 Yes

16 (6.20%)

242 (93.79%)

1.00

2.725 (1.472, 5.046)**

 No

86 (18.65%)

375 (81.34%)

3.469 (1.986, 6.058)*

Colostrums avoidance

 Yes

52 (41.27%)

74 (58.73%)

7.631 (4.828, 12.06)*

6.030 (3.478, 10.45)**

 No

50 (8.43%)

543 (91.57%)

1.00

Assistant during birth

 Health personnel

78 (12.17%)

563 (87.83%)

1.00

0.318 (0.066, 1.529)

 TBA

24 (30.77%)

54 (69.23%)

3.208 (1.877, 5.483)*

Place of delivery

 Health facility

71 (11.31%)

557 (88.69%)

1.00

3.035 (1.603, 5.747)**

 Home

31 (34.06%)

60 (65.93%)

4.053 (2.461, 6.676)*

Mode of delivery

 Cesarean section

28 (28.86%)

69 (71.13%)

3.005 (1.819, 4.963)*

4.266 (2.276, 7.996)**

 Vaginal delivery

74 (11.89%)

548 (88.01%)

1.00