Table 2.
Baseline comparisons of the three study group’s characteristics
| Variable | Cer | Cer + Fr | M | All groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (n = 22) | (n = 28) | (n = 32) | (n = 82) | |
| Males (%) | 44.0 | 48.3 | 54.8 | 49.4 |
| Birth weight (g) mean ± SD | 3437 ± 475 | 3693 ± 494 | 3544 ± 519 | 3563 ± 503 |
| Length at birth (cm) mean ± SD | 52 ± 2.8 | 52.5 ± 2.6 | 51.7 ± 2.7 | 52 ± 2.7 |
| HC at birth (cm) mean ± SD | 34.1 ± 2.0 | 34 ± 1.9 | 35.5 ± 1.8 | 34.7 ± 1.9 |
| Gestation (wk) mean ± SD | 39.8 ± 1.3 | 39.8 ± 1.7 | 39.4 ± 1.0 | 39.7 ± 1.4 |
| Parity (%) | ||||
| 1 | 32 | 27.6 | 35.5 | 31.8 |
| 2 | 36 | 41.4 | 51.6 | 43.5 |
| ≥ 3 | 32 | 30.8 | 12.9 | 24.8 |
| Parity mean ± SD | 2.0 ± 0.8 | 2.3 ± 1.5 | 1.8 ± 0.9 | 2.0 ± 1.1 |
| Mean Maternal age (years) | 31.1 ± 4.4 | 31.9 ± 4.1 | 34.5 ± 3.7* | 32.6 ± 4.3 |
| Mode of delivery (%) | ||||
| Vaginal | 83.3 | 92.3 | 83.3 | 86.3 |
| Caesarian | 12.5 | 3.8 | 16.7 | 11.3 |
| Other | 4.2 | 3.8 | 0.0 | 2.5 |
| Antenatal-postnatal complication (%) | ||||
| Yes | 24 | 20.7 | 29 | 24.7 |
| No | 76 | 79.3 | 71 | 75.3 |
| Fe supplementation during pregnancy (%) | 20 | 31 | 25.8 | 25.9 |
| Vitamin supplementation during pregnancy (%) | 88 | 89.7 | 96.8 | 91.8 |
| Vitamin supplementation during BF (%) | 48* | 62.1* | 79.3* | 63.9 |
| Marital status (%) | ||||
| Married | 88 | 93.1 | 93.5 | 91.8 |
| Single | 4.0 | 6.9 | 0.0 | 3.5 |
| Divorced | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Common-law | 8.0 | 0.0 | 6.5 | 4.7 |
| Maternal pre-pregnancy weight (Kg) mean ± SD | 67 ± 14.7 | 66.6 ± 12.1 | 69.8 ± 14.7 | 67.9 ± 13.8 |
| Maternal height mean ± SD | 165 ± 6.3 | 166.3 ± 6.9 | 166.5 ± 7.5 | 166 ± 6.9 |
| Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI mean ± SD | 24.6 ± 4.4 | 24.1 ± 3.9 | 25.3 ± 5.3 | 24.7 ± 4.6 |
| Duration of previous BF (months) mean ± SD | 14.9 ± 8.9 | 12.3 ± 7.5 | 13.4 ± 6.2 | 13.5 ± 7.4 |
| Maternal education (%) | ||||
| Primary & secondary | 16 | 10.7 | 9.7 | 11.9 |
| Post secondary | 84 | 89.3 | 90.3 | 88.1 |
| Pre-delivery working mothers (%) | 76 | 85.7 | 96.8 | 86.9 |
| Paternal weight (Kg) mean ± SD | 88.4 ± 14.9 | 92 ± 18.8 | 87.9 ± 11.7 | 89.5 ± 15.2 |
| Paternal height mean ± SD | 179.5 ± 8.0 | 180 ± 7.1 | 180 ± 7.9 | 180 ± 7.6 |
| Paternal BMI mean ± SD | 25.1 ± 8.7 | 28.3 ± 5.3 | 27.0 ± 4.2 | 26.9 ± 6.1 |
| Paternal education (%) | ||||
| Primary & secondary | 16.0 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 7.3 |
| Post secondary | 84.0 | 96.2 | 96.8 | 92.7 |
| No. of household occupants mean ± SD | 3.9 ± 0.8 | 4.3 ± 1.5 | 3.9 ± 1.0 | 4.0 ± 1.2 |
| No. of household children mean ± SD | 1.8 ± 0.7 | 2.4 ± 1.5 | 1.9 ± 0.9 | 2.0 ± 1.1 |
| Maternal smoking (%) | 4.0 | 0.0 | 3.2 | 2.4 |
| Infant Vitamin D supplementation (%) | 96.0 | 100.0 | 90.3 | 95.3 |
BF Breastfeeding, BM breast milk, *: p < 0.05