Table 1.
Selected demographic characteristics of Rural Infant Feeding Study (RIFS) participants
| Demographic characteristic (n = 427) (Mean ± SD) | n | % |
|---|---|---|
| Mean maternal age (yrs): 30.2 ± 5.2 | ||
| Mean birth weight (g): 3523 ± 471 | ||
| Mean gestational age (wks): 39.5 ± 1.4 | ||
| Health service regiona (n = 427) | ||
| Midwest | 291 | 68.1 |
| South West | 100 | 23.4 |
| Wheatbelt | 19 | 4.4 |
| Goldfields | 15 | 3.5 |
| Pilbara | 2 | 0.5 |
| Remoteness classification (ARIA) (n = 424) | ||
| HA (Highly Accessible) | 19 | 4.4 |
| A (Accessible) | 259 | 60.7 |
| MA (Moderately Accessible) | 95 | 22.2 |
| R (Remote) | 31 | 7.3 |
| VR (Very Remote) | 20 | 4.7 |
| Maternal age (yrs) (n = 427) | ||
| <20 | 11 | 2.6 |
| 20-29 | 184 | 43.1 |
| ≥30 | 232 | 54.3 |
| Parity (n = 424) | ||
| Primiparous | 178 | 41.7 |
| Multiparous | 246 | 57.6 |
| Maternal education (n = 417) | ||
| Did not complete high school | 57 | 13.3 |
| Completed Yr 12/technical/trade qualification | 198 | 46.4 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 162 | 37.9 |
| Mother’s country of birth (n = 420) | ||
| Australia/New Zealand | 363 | 85.0 |
| UK/Ireland | 26 | 6.1 |
| Other | 31 | 7.3 |
| Household income (AUD) (n = 409) | ||
| <72,800 | 167 | 39.1 |
| ≥72,800 | 242 | 56.7 |
| Birth weight (g) (n = 422) | ||
| <2500 | 7 | 1.6 |
| ≥2500 | 415 | 97.2 |
| Method of delivery (n = 425) | ||
| Vaginal | 244 | 57.1 |
| Assisted (forceps/suction) | 60 | 14.1 |
| Caesarean section | 121 | 28.3 |
aWestern Australia Department of Health region