Table 2

Sociodemographic information and obstetric characteristics of women by labour companion status, N=2034

No labour companion present (N=1317)Labour companion present (N=717)Total* (N=2034)
n (%)n (%)n (%)
Maternal age†
 15–19195 (14.8)51 (7.1)246 (12.1)
 20–29649 (49.4)327 (45.8)976 (48.1)
 ≥30471 (35.8)336 (47.1)807 (39.8)
 Unknown2 (0.1)3 (0.4)5 (0.2)
Marital status†
 Currently married/cohabiting1191 (90.6)625 (87.7)1816 (89.6)
 Single‡123 (9.4)88 (12.3)211 (10.4)
 Other/do not know/unknown/missing3 (0.2)4 (0.6)7 (0.3)
Education†
 No education273 (20.8)50 (7.0)323 (15.9)
 Some primary125 (9.5)55 (7.7)180 (8.9)
 Complete primary374 (28.4)180 (25.2)554 (27.3)
 Complete secondary310 (23.6)226 (31.7)536 (26.4)
 Complete tertiary213 (16.2)180 (25.2)393 (19.4)
 Vocational/other/unknown22 (1.7)26 (3.6)48 (2.4)
Number of previous births†
 1747 (56.8)453 (63.5)1200 (59.1)
 2 or 3377 (28.6)183 (25.5)560 (27.5)
 4+191 (14.5)78 (10.9)269 (13.2)
 Unknown2 (0.2)3 (0.4)5 (0.2)
Number of previous pregnancies
 1397 (30.2)194 (27.2)591 (29.1)
 2 or 3535 (40.6)311 (43.4)846 (41.6)
 4+381 (29.0)209 (29.3)590 (29.1)
 Unknown3 (0.2)3 (0.4)6 (0.3)
Number of babies at most recent birth
 1 (singleton)1285 (97.7)699 (97.9)1984 (97.8)
 2 (twins)30 (2.3)15 (2.1)45 (2.2)
 Unknown2 (0.2)3 (0.4)5 (0.2)
Breast feeding
Currently breast feeding†1258 (95.5)698 (97.4)1956 (96.2)
Breastfeeding initiation† (from time of most recent birth) (N=1971)
 <1 hour552 (43.5)338 (48.2)890 (45.2)
 ≥1–<24 hours611 (48.2)273 (38.9)884 (44.9)
 ≥24 hours104 (8.2)91 (13.0)195 (9.9)
 Unknown/missing2 (0.2)02 (0.1)
  • *Total is sample based on Ghana, Guinea and Nigeria.

  • †Significant Χ2 at p<0.05.

  • ‡Single, separated, divorced or widowed.