Table III.
Comparison of selected characteristics of the study cohort and dropouts (based on the MBRN database)
| Item | Dropouts mean, n (%), n = 113 | Study cohort mean, n (%), n = 391 | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternal age (years) | 29.2 | 31.0 | 0.002 |
| Years at school (years)a | 14.7 | 15.9 | 0.002 |
| Parity (previous deliveries) | 0.80 | 0.97 | NS |
| Gestational age (weeks) | 39.4 | 39.6 | NS |
| Birth weight (g) | 3502 | 3623 | NS |
| Apgar 5 minutes | 9.2 | 9.5 | NS |
| Smoking, beginning of pregnancy | 34 (32.1) | 45 (13.1) | <0.001 |
| Smoking, end of pregnancy | 17 (17.3) | 16 (5.2) | <0.001 |
| Instrumental deliveryb | 21 (18.6) | 43 (11.0) | 0.03 |
| Dystocia: prolonged delivery, inertia, disproportion | 28 (24.8) | 89 (22.8) | NS |
| Meconium stained amniotic liquid | 16 (14.2) | 35 (9.0) | NS |
| Haemorrhage | 6 (5.3) | 26 (6.6) | NS |
| Medical pain relief | 87 (77.0) | 273 (69.8) | NS |
| Induced delivery | 5 (4.4) | 26 (6.6) | NS |
| Twins | 3 (2.7) | 6 (1.5) | NS |
| Vitamins during pregnancy | 57 (50.4) | 183 (46.8) | NS |
| Folic acid during pregnancy | 78 (69.0) | 278 (71.1) | NS |
a
From the FFQ.
b
Caesarean section (elective and acute) and vacuum.