Table 2.

Data collection

Data collection forms	Sociodemographic
	Dietary	24-hour recall
	Women’s Health Questionnaire	Health status*
		Reproductive history
		Risk factors for NTDs
Anthropometry	Circumference	Waist and hip
		Mid-upper arm
	Skinfolds	Triceps
Biological samples		Blood, saliva and urine

Biomarker assessment	Indicator	Definition
Complete blood count	Haemoglobin and anaemia	Hb <12.0 g/dL, <8.0 g/dL
Erythrocyte (RBC) folate†	Folate status	RBC folate <305 nmol/L, <748 nmol/L
Serum folate†		Serum folate <7.0 nmol/L
Total vitamin B12	Vitamin B12 status	Vitamin B12 <148 pmol/L, <221 pmol/L

*Morbidity, signs and symptoms.

†WHO-recommended microbiological assay.

NTDs, neural tube defects; RBC, red blood cell.