Table 1.

Distribution of mothers by socio demographic characteristics in Bale Zone, South east Ethiopia, August, 2013

Variables	LBW		NBW		Total
Age group (Years )	No	%	No	%	No	%
≤ 20	52	40.3	56	21.7	108	28.0
21–35	66	51.2	179	69.4	245	63.3
> 35	11	8.5	23	8.9	34	8.7
Weight group (Kg)
< 50	16	12.4	12	4.7	28	7.2
≥ 50	113	87.6	246	95.3	359	92.8
Height (Cm)
≤ 150	20	15.5	16	6.2	36	9.3
> 150	109	84.5	242	93.8	351	90.7
Birth interval in year
≤ 2	32	49.2	43	25.3	75	31.9
> 2	33	50.8	127	74.7	160	68.1
Religion
Muslim	86	66.7	139	53.9	225	58.1
Orthodox	38	29.5	100	38.8	138	35.7
Protestant	5	3.9	14	5.4	19	4.9
Catholic	0	0	5	1.9	5	1.3
Ethnicity
Oromo	103	79.8	183	70.9	186	73.9
Amhara	14	10.9	64	24.8	78	20.2
Otherb	12	9.3	11	1.3	23	5.9
Marital status
Married	116	89.9	243	94.2	359	92.7
Othersa	13	10.1	15	5.8	28	7.3
Residence
Urban	67	51.9	194	75.2	261	67.4
Rural	62	48.1	64	24.8	126	32.6
Head of household
Male	117	90.7	233	90.3	350	90.4
Female	12	9.3	25	9.7	37	9.6
Maternal Occupation
Employed	10	7.8	40	15.5	50	12.9
House wife	90	69.8	117	45.3	207	53.4
Farmer	8	6.2	31	12.0	39	10.0
Merchant	12	9.3	63	24.4	75	19.3
Daily labourer	9	7.0	7	2.7	16	4.3
Monthly Income (USDc)
< =26	31	24.6	20	7.8	51	13.3
27–53	40	31.7	49	19.1	89	23.2
54–79	15	11.9	39	15.2	54	14.1
> 79	40	31.7	149	58	189	49.3
Maternal Education
Illiterate	59	45.7	40	15.5	99	25.6
Read and write only	2	1.6	5	1.9	7	1.8
Primary (1–8)	49	38.0	109	42.2	158	40.8
Secondary (9–12)	14	10.9	81	31.4	95	24.5
Tertiary	5	3.9	23	8.9	28	7.2

^aInclude: divorced, single, separated and widowed

^binclude: Tigrie, Guragie, Somali and Wolayita

^cUnited States dollar