Table 2.
Infant (9 to 12 months) feeding practices, anthropometry, haemoglobin, and morbidity measures by micronutrient powder (MNP) exposure
| All | MNP exposed | MNP unexposed | P values | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N = 200 | n = 98 | n = 102 | ||
| Feeding practices | ||||
| Currently breastfed | 200 (100) | 98 (100) | 102 (100) | — |
| Fed minimum number of meals/day (≥3) | 147 (73.5) | 72 (73.5) | 75 (73.5) | 0.99 |
| Dietary diversity score (DDS) | 2.3 ± 0.8 | 2.2 ± 0.8 | 2.4 ± 0.8 | 0.23 |
| Met minimum DDS (≥4 food groups) | 7 (3.5) | 3 (3.1) | 4(3.9) | 0.74 |
| Vitamin A supplement within the last 6 months | 200 (100) | 98 (100) | 102 (100) | — |
| Anthropometric characteristics | ||||
| Stunting (LAZ < −2) | 60 (30.0) | 22 (22.4) | 38 (37.3) | 0.02* |
| Underweight (WAZ < −2) | 8 (4.0) | 3 (3.1) | 5 (4.9) | 0.51 |
| Wasting (WLZ < −2) | 6 (3.0) | 3 (3.1) | 3 (2.9) | 0.96 |
| MUAC (cm)b | 13.2 ± 1.0 | 13.3 ± 1.1 | 13.0 ± 0.8 | 0.02* |
| Head circumference (cm)b | 46.9 ± 2.1 | 47.4 ± 1.8 | 46.4 ± 2.3 | <0.001* |
| Haemoglobin and morbidity | ||||
| Haemoglobin level (g/dl)a | 11.8 ± 3.7 | 12.4 ± 3.6 | 11.3 ± 3.8 | 0.03* |
| Anaemic status | 82(41.0) | 30(30.6) | 52(51.0) | 0.003* |
| Child sick in the past 1 week | 23 (11.5) | 15 (15.3) | 8 (7.8) | 0.10 |
Note. Values are mean ± SD or n (%). LAZ: z‐scores length‐for‐age; WLZ: z‐scores weight‐for‐length; MUAC: middle upper arm circumference; WAZ: z‐scores weight‐for‐age.
a
Haemoglobin values were adjusted for altitude.
b
Mann–Whitney U test was used for comparing exposed and unexposed groups.
*
Significant mean differences or proportion between unexposed and exposed groups at P < 0.05 levels using two‐tailed independent t‐test (continuous variables) or chi‐square (frequencies) test.