Table 3 Multilevel parameter estimates and adjusted odds of child marriage prevalence, DHS 2007 -2018

Individual factors

 Age

  20–24

1

1

  25–29

1.02(0.88–1.18)

1.02(0.88–1.18)

 Education level

  None

1

1

  Primary

0.82(0.62–1.09)

0.81(0.61–1.08)

  Secondary

0.36***(0.26–0.50)

0.36***(0.26–0.49)

  Higher

0.07***(0.03–0.18)

0.07***(0.03–0.18)

 Wealth status

  Poor

1

1

  Middle

1.11(0.93–1.34)

1.10(0.91–1.34)

  Rich

1.11(0.90–1.37)

1.15(0.89–1.48)

 Employment status

  Not working

1

1

  Working

1.02(0.85–1.21)

1.02(0.85–1.23)

 Age at first Sex

  Less than 15

1

1

  15–19

0.55***(0.45–0.69)

0.56***(0.45–0.70)

  20–29

0.12***(0.07–0.21)

0.12***(0.06–0.21)

 Age at firth birth

  Less than 15

1

1

  15–19

0.57**(0.39–0.83)

0.57**(0.39–0.83)

  20–29

0.04***(0.03–0.07)

0.04***(0.03–0.07)

 Education level of partner

  None

1

1

  Primary

0.92(0.66–1.28)

0.93(0.66–1.29)

  Secondary

0.71*(0.50–0.99)

0.71*(0.50–0.99)

  Higher

0.55*(0.33–0.90)

0.56*(0.34–0.92)

 Employment status of partner

  Not working

1

1

  Working

0.96(0.69–1.34)

0.97(0.70–1.35)

 Media exposure

  No

1

1

  Yes

1.05(0.83–1.33)

1.05(0.83–1.33)

 Desired family size

  Less than 4

1

1

  4–5

1.08(0.88–1.32)

1.07(0.87–1.32)

  6 + 

1.28*(1.00–1.64)

1.28(0.99–1.64)

Factors at community level

 Place of residence

  Urban

1

1

  Rural

1.67***(1.45–1.91)

0.98(0.78–1.22)

 Community poverty

  Low

1

1

  Medium

1.02 (0.90–1.18)

1.29*(1.06–1.57)

  High

0.90 (0.76–1.07)

0.99(0.77–1.27)

 Community education

  Low

1

1

  Medium

1.34***(1.18–1.51)

1.00(0.84–1.21)

  High

1.50***(1.18–1.75)

0.98(0.79–1.22)

 Community employment

  Low

1

1

  Medium

1.00(0.89–1.14)

0.94(0.79–1.22)

  High

1.06(0.87–1.19)

1.11(0.93–1.33)

 Community young age at first birth

  Low

1

1

  Medium

1.37**(1.22–1.54)

1.16(0.98–1.37)

  High

1.72**(1.53–1.94)

1.36***(1.14–1.62)

 Community FP media exposure

  Low

1

1

  Medium

1.04(0.91–1.19)

0.97(0.80–1.16)

  High

1.00(0.87–1.15)

1.06(0.86–1.29)

 Community fertility preference

  Low

1

1

  Medium

1.07(0.94–1.21)

1.03(0.86–1.24)

  High

1.09(0.83–1.25)

1.01(0.83–1.23)

 Random effects

  Variance (CI)

0.23(0.17–0.30)

0.18(0.11–0.30)

0.10 (0.06–0.15)

0.15(0.09–0.27)

  ICC (%)

6.4

5.3

2.9

4.5

  PCV (%)

Ref

22.7

56.5

35.0

  Model fitness

  Log likelihood

− 6910.4

− 3358.6

− 6752.9

− 3344.8

  AIC

13,824.9

6757.3

13,535.8

6755.6

  N

9990

9990

9990

9900