Table 2.
Characteristics of participants and comparison of serum zinc concentration of groups (mean± SD)
| Variable | n (%) (n = 961) | Serum zinc at screening (µg/dl) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (year)* | ≤19 | 42 (4.4) | 93.02 (27.93) | Non-significant |
| 20-24 | 317 (33.0) | 90.62 (27.63) | ||
| 25-29 | 360 (37.5) | 88.99 (24.88) | ||
| 30-34 | 192 (20.0) | 86.77 (24.53) | ||
| ≥35 | 50 (5.2) | 88.64 (25.73) | ||
| Body mass index (kg/m2)* at the first trimester | < 19.8 | 133 (13.8) | 90.51 (24.51) | Non-significant |
| 19.8-26 | 535 (55.7) | 89.99 (27.01) | ||
| 26.1-29.9 | 195 (20.3) | 86.83 (25.08) | ||
| ≥ 30 | 98 (10.2) | 88.22 (23.29) | ||
| Parity (n) | 0 | 612 (63.7) | 91.03 (26.14) | 0.022 |
| 1 | 266 (27.7) | 86.81 (26.58) | ||
| ≥2 | 83 (8.6) | 83.86 (20.58) | ||
| Occupation (%) ** | Housekeeper | 868 (90.3) | 89.44 (26.10) | Non-significant |
| Employed | 93 (9.7) | 86.97 (24.07) | ||
| Educational status ** | ≤ 5th grade | 95 (9.9%) | 88.92 (24.58) | Non-significant |
| 6th -8th grade | 139 (14.4%) | 84.83 (25.68) | ||
| 9th -12th grade | 586 (61.0%) | 90.33 (26.12) | ||
| University | 141(14.7%) | 89.87 (25.83) | ||
| Last method of contraception | Hormonal | 134 (13.9%) | 86.48 (24.12) | Non-significant |
| IUD | 50 (5.2%) | 84.98 (26.52) | ||
| Barrier | 94 (9.8%) | 87.73 (24.50) | ||
| Withdrawal | 489 (50.9%) | 89.61 (25.66) | ||
| Nothing or breast feeding | 194 (20.2%) | 92.84 (28.05) |
*
One-way ANOVA
**
T-test