Table 3.
Distribution of birth outcome variables by caste groups in a birth cohort study: at birth, 6, 24 and 36 months after birth
| |
Caste groups, Mean (SD) or Median |
P for trend | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brahmin
|
Chetri
|
Vaishya
|
Shudra
|
||
| (N = 37) | (N = 13) | (N = 26) | (N = 18) | ||
|
In utero exposure of toxic elements (n = 94), mean |
|
|
|
|
|
| Arsenic (μg/L)§ |
1.3 (1.4) |
1.3 (0.3) |
1.7 (0.7) |
1.5 (0.5) |
<0.01 |
| Lead (μg/L)§ |
30.5 (40.3) |
31.4 (27.7) |
36.7 (39.6) |
26.4 (17.5) |
0.59 |
| Anthropometric characteristics, mean |
|
|
|
|
|
| Birth weight (kg) (n = 94) |
3.0 (0.5) |
3.0 (0.4) |
3.1 (0.4) |
3.1 (0.5) |
0.16 |
| Body weight (kg) at 6 months after birth (n = 94) |
7.3 (1.1) |
7.3 (0.8) |
7.3 (0.7) |
7.3 (0.8) |
0.93 |
| Body weight (kg) at 24 months after birth (n = 89) |
11.5 (1.6) |
11.0 (1.3) |
10.9 (1.2) |
10.8 (1.0) |
0.09 |
| Body weight (kg) at 36 months after birth (n = 83) |
12.9 (1.7) |
12.5 (1.1) |
12.4 (1.4) |
12.6 (1.3) |
0.30 |
| NBAS III cluster score at birth (n = 94), median |
|
|
|
|
|
| Habituation |
27 |
27 |
28 |
26.5 |
0.47 |
| Orientation |
45 |
37 |
44 |
38 |
0.30 |
| Motor system |
26 |
24 |
25.5 |
26 |
0.21 |
| State organization |
11 |
14 |
15.5 |
9.5 |
0.58 |
| State regulation |
28 |
28 |
25 |
26 |
<0.01 |
| Autonomic stability |
13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
0.26 |
| Abnormal reflex |
7 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
0.23 |
| BSID II cluster score at 6 months after birth (n = 94), median |
|
|
|
|
|
| MDI |
104 |
104 |
107 |
104 |
0.07 |
| PDI |
103 |
100 |
101.5 |
104 |
0.80 |
| BRS |
122 |
127 |
124 |
121 |
0.39 |
| BSID II cluster score at 24 months after birth (n = 89), median |
|
|
|
|
|
| MDI |
94 |
94 |
94 |
92 |
0.49 |
| PDI |
100 |
107 |
104.5 |
100 |
0.75 |
| BRS |
106 |
114 |
109.5 |
104 |
0.43 |
| BSID II cluster score at 36 months after birth (n = 83), median |
|
|
|
|
|
| MDI |
95 |
93 |
97 |
90 |
0.19 |
| PDI |
116 |
116 |
119 |
116 |
0.60 |
| BRS | 106 | 104 | 102 | 104 | 0.17 |
§Log transformed values were tested.
Bold signifies p < 0.05.
NBAS: Brazelton neonatal behavioral assessment scale, BSID: Bayley scale of infant development, MDI: mental development index, PDI: psychomotor development index, BRS: behavioral rating scale.