Table 1 Childbirth & household characteristics of case and control groups

Place of birth during last pregnancy

Health facility

50/66 (75.8)

106/128 (82.8)

Reference

Home

16/66 (24.2)

22/128 (17.2)

2.2 (0.8–5.9)

0.096

Birth order at last pregnancy

1^st

15/66 (22.7)

37/129 (28.7)

Reference

2^nd–3^rd

28/66 (42.4)

54/129 (41.9)

1.1 (0.5–2.1)

0.850

4^th or more

23/68 (34.8)

38/129 (29.5)

5.3 (0.7–40.2)

0.069

Birth weight of infants born out of last pregnancy

Normal

53/62 (85.5)

84/88 (95.4)

Reference

Low (<2.5Kg)

9/62 (14.5)

4/88 (4.6)

2.8 (0.8–9.7)

0.095

Water fed to the infant in concern with breast milk within 6 months of life

No

56/66 (84.8)

109/129 (84.5)

Reference

Yes

10/66 (15.2)

20/129 (15.5)

1.0 (0.4–2.4)

0.943

Source of drinking water

Only PHE

26/66 (39.4)

46/129 (35.7)

Reference

Other sources

40/66 (60.6)

83/129 (64.3)

0.8 (0.4–1.7)

0.606

Domestic treatment of drinking water

Yes

57/66 (86.4)

116/129 (89.9)

Reference

No

9/66 (13.6)

13/129 (10.1)

1.5 (0.5–4.5)

0.469

Place for cooking

Separate kitchen

14/66 (21.2)

32/129 (24.8)

Reference

Next to bedroom /living room

52/66 (78.8)

97/129 (75.2)

1.3 (0.6–2.8)

0.555

Fuel used for cooking

Gas and/or Heater

21/66 (31.8)

41/129 (31.8)

Reference

Other fuel

45/66 (68.2)

88/129 (68.2)

1.1 (0.5–2.3)

0.894

Having pets

None

42/66 (63.6)

86/129 (66.7)

Reference

At least one pet

24/66 (36.4)

43/129 (33.3)

1.1 (0.6–1.9)

0.681

Having animals for sell / sacrifice at home

None

24/66 (36.4)

60/129 (46.5)

Reference

At least one animal

42/66 (63.6)

69/129 (53.5)

1.5 (0.8–2.7)

0.164