Table 1.
Baseline characteristics
| |
Placebo (n=8411) |
Iron and folic acid (n=8128) |
Iron and folic acid with zinc (n=8951) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (months) | |||
| 1−5 | 3978 (47%) | 3814 (47%) | 4249 (48%) |
| 6−11 | 961 (11%) | 966 (12%) | 1017 (11%) |
| 12−23 | 1758 (21%) | 1784 (22%) | 1900 (21%) |
| 24−35 | 1714 (20%) | 1564 (19%) | 1785 (20%) |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 4239 (50%) | 4244 (52%) | 4568 (51%) |
| Female | 4172 (50%) | 3884 (48%) | 4383 (49%) |
| Ethnic group (n=142 missing) | |||
| Pahadi | 2798 (33%) | 2951 (37%) | 3150 (35%) |
| Madeshi | 5577 (67%) | 5127 (64%) | 5745 (65%) |
| Caste (n=120 missing) | |||
| Brahmin | 724 (9%) | 508 (6%) | 689 (8%) |
| Chetri | 618 (7%) | 753 (9%) | 608 (7%) |
| Vaiysha | 4914 (59%) | 5370 (66%) | 5960 (67%) |
| Shudra | 1151 (14%) | 991 (12%) | 1067 (12%) |
| Muslim or other (not included above) | 972 (12%) | 465 (6%) | 580 (7%) |
| Paternal literacy (n=149 missing) | |||
| Yes | 4454 (53%) | 4474 (56%) | 4736 (53%) |
| Maternal literacy (n=122 missing) | |||
| Yes | 1957 (23%) | 2034 (25%) | 2030 (23%) |
| Paternal occupation (n=204 missing) | |||
| Farmer | 3896 (47%) | 3782 (47%) | 3923 (44%) |
| Labourer | 2362 (28%) | 2383 (30%) | 2670 (30%) |
| Business man | 1144 (14%) | 904 (11%) | 1205 (14%) |
| Private service | 602 (7%) | 676 (8%) | 662 (8%) |
| Government | 247 (3%) | 220 (3%) | 287 (3%) |
| None | 106 (1%) | 76 (1%) | 141 (2%) |
| Previous child mortality (n=82 missing) | |||
| Rate/1000 livebirths | 88·0 | 82·6 | 87·3 |
| • 1 previous child death | 2139 (26%) | 1936 (24%) | 2277 (26%) |
| Electricity in house (n=121 missing) | |||
| Yes | 1922 (23%) | 1958 (24%) | 2045 (23%) |
| Ownership | |||
| Bicycle (n=119 missing) | 4015 (48%) | 3939 (49%) | 4213 (47%) |
| Cart (n=119 missing) | 989 (12%) | 929 (12%) | 901 (10%) |
| Radio (n=123 missing) | 2412 (29%) | 2167 (27%) | 2335 (26%) |
| Television (n=137 missing) | 1430 (17%) | 1425 (18%) | 1563 (18%) |
| (n=220 missing) | |||
| Non-paddy farm land (n=217 missing) | 3801 (46%) | 3440 (43%) | 3867 (44%) |
| Cattle (n=120 missing) | 5139 (61%) | 4827 (60%) | 5279 (59%) |
| Goats (n=126 missing) | 3912 (47%) | 3831 (47%) | 4030 (45%) |
| Paddy farm land | 4027 (48%) | 3941 (49%) | 4142 (47%) |
| House wall material (n=118 missing) | |||
| None | 132 (2%) | 137 (2%) | 128 (1%) |
| Thatch | 2103 (25%) | 2220 (27%) | 2486 (28%) |
| Mud | 4717 (56%) | 4223 (52%) | 4774 (54%) |
| Wood | 292 (4%) | 313 (4%) | 261 (3%) |
| Concrete | 1135 (14%) | 1196 (15%) | 1255 (14%) |
| House roof material (n=119 missing) | |||
| None | 37 (• 1%) | 18 (• 1%) | 69 (• 1%) |
| Thatch | 1513 (18%) | 1304 (16%) | 1688 (19%) |
| Tile or tin | 6480 (77%) | 6441 (80%) | 6784 (76%) |
| Concrete | 349 (4%) | 326 (4%) | 362 (4%) |
| Latrine at house (n=155 missing) | |||
| Yes | 1026 (12%) | 1031 (13%) | 1085 (12%) |
| Water source (n=121 missing) | |||
| Tube well | 6978 (83%) | 6530 (81%) | 7094 (80%) |
| Ring well | 1143 (14%) | 1391 (17%) | 1578 (18%) |
| Other | 257 (3%) | 167 (2%) | 231 (3%) |
| Mid—upper arm circumference (cm) (n=504 missing) | |||
| Mean (SD) | 11·95 (1·98) | 11·95 (1·97) | 12·01 (1·98) |
| Median (IQR) | 12·4 (3·20) | 12·4 (3·20) | 12·4 (3·20) |
| • 11·5 | 3099 (38%) | 2955 (37%) | 3248 (37%) |
| 11·5−12·4 | 1171 (14%) | 1158 (15%) | 1223 (14%) |
| 12·5−13·4 | 1774 (22%) | 1824 (23%) | 1874 (21%) |
| • 13·5 | 2177 (27%) | 2035 (26%) | 2448 (28%) |
Data are number (%) unless otherwise indicated.