Table 3

Logistic regression exploring associations between respondent and child characteristics and emotional distress during VA

Visible emotional distress due to open narrative
DescriptorsaOR* (95% CI)P value
Open narrativeNo1.00
Yes1.20 (0.98 to 1.47)0.084
RespondentMother1.00
Father0.72 (0.49 to 1.07)0.102
Grandparent0.23 (0.13 to 0.39)<0.001
Others0.04 (0.01 to 0.28)0.001
Child’s ageNeonate1.00
Infant1.42 (1.09 to 1.85)0.010
Child under-51.21 (0.86 to 1.69)0.274
Child’s sexMale1.00
Female0.99 (0.80 to 1.22)0.920
Location of deathHome1.00
Health centre1.36 (1.04 to 1.77)0.023
MDH0.96 (0.72 to 1.27)0.753
En route to hospital1.49 (1.00 to 2.22)0.049
Other0.38 (0.23 to 0.64)<0.001
Socioeconomic status by tercileTercile 1 (lowest)1.00
Tercile 2 (middle)1.52 (1.17 to 1.97)0.002
Tercile 3 (highest)1.49 (1.13 to 1.95)0.004
Delay between death and VA (weeks)0.98 (0.98 to 0.99)0.002
  • *All variables presented were included in the adjusted analysis.

  • aOR, adjusted OR; MDH, Mchinji District Hospital; VA, verbal autopsy.