Table 3 Bivariate and Multivariable analysis of factors associated with anemia among children aged 6–59 months at Debre Markos referral hospital, Northwest, Ethiopia, 2019

Sex of child

Female

20(13.5%)

128(86.5%)

1.33(0.67–2.65)

–

–

Male

17(13.5%)

145(86.5%)

1

Childs’ age in months

6–11

15(40.5%)

47(59.5%)

4.68(1.27–17.3) *

3.62(0.83–6.5)

0.849

12–23

9(24.5%)

74(76.5%)

1.78(0.46–6.94)

2.34(0.40–13.6)

0.343

24–35

5(13.5%)

62(86.5%)

1.18(0.27–5.21)

0.83(0.12–5.56)

0.778

36–47

3(8.1%)

44(91.9%)

1.59(0.36–7.07)

0.76(0.12–4.88)

0.171

48–59

5(13.5%)

62(86.5%)

1

1

Mothers’ age in years

15–29

21(11.5%)

161(89.5%)

1

1

30–49

16(12%)

128(89.1%)

4.13(2.6–18.3) *

2.54 (0.35–5.34)

0.471

Residence

Urban

17(8.1%)

192(91.9%)

1

1

Rural

20 (19.8%)

81(80.2%)

2.79(1.39–5.60)

2.52(0.67–9.47)

0.114

Mothers’ occupation

employed

9(7.1%)

117(92.9%)

1

1

House wife

10 (9.3%)

98(90.7%)

0.25(0.11–0.59)

4.50(0.69–29.1)

0.818

Farmer

18(23.7%)

58(76.3%)

0.33(0.14–0.760)

1.17(0.30–4.61)

0.707

mothers’ educational Level

Unable to read

22(31.4%)

48(68.6%)

0.162(0.7–0.38)

0.10(0.03–0.38)

0.234

Primary and secondary school

9(6.9%)

121(93.1%)

0.13(0.05–0.33)

0.07(0.01–0.47)

0.206

College & above

6(5.5%)

104(94.5%)

1

1

Annual family income

≤10,000 ETB

30(20.7%)

115(79.3%)

5.89(2.50–13.87) *

2.87(1.57–5.0) **

0.004

> 10,000 ETB

7(4.2%)

158(95.8%)

1

1

Complimentary food starting

<  6 months

20(21.9%)

71(79.1%)

3.35(1.66–6.75) *

3.38(1.32–8.64) **

0.016

>  6 months

17(7.8%)

202(92.2%)

1

1

Intestinal parasites

Yes

198(92.5%)

16(7.5%)

3.45(0.72–6.99) *

3.20 (1.23–6.61) **

0.024

No

21(21.8%)

75(78.2%)

1

1

0.445

Child history of anemia

Yes

2(33.3%)

4(66.6%)

1

1

No

35(11.5%)

269(88.5%)

0.26(0.05–1.47)

2.82(0.20–40.4)

0.317

Place of delivery

Home

8(6.2%)

122(93.8%)

1.71(0.69–4.22)

2.54(0.56–5.81)

0.158

Health facility

29(10.1%)

151(89.9%)

1

1

Hospital stay of child

1 day

32(11.7%)

241(88.3%)

1.18(0.43_3.24)

–

–

>  1 day

5(13.5%)

32(86.5%)

1

Number of Children

One child

10(8.8%)

103(91.2%)

1

1

2 &abo child

27(13.7%)

170(86.4%)

0.61(0.28–1.32)

1.416(0.44–4.55)

0.559

Dietary diversity score

Below 4

99

87

6.6(3.76–11.59) *

2.3(1.12–5.14) **

≤ 0.001

4 and above

20

104

1

1

Household food insecurity

Yes

55

85

1

1

No

87

163

1.21 (0.8–1.86)

3.24 (1.85–4.52) **

≤ 0.001