Table 5.

Association of geophagy with pregnancy outcomes and the risk of HIV transmission

	Geophagy
Endpoint	Yes, n/N (%)	No, n/N (%)	Unadjusted RR (95% CI)	P value	Adjusted RR (95% CI)*	P value
Pregnancy outcomes
Birthweight < 2500 g	28/228 (12.3%)	60/576 (10.4%)	1.18 (0.77, 1.80)	0.44	1.23 (0.77, 1.94)	0.38
Preterm birth (< 37 weeks)	64/248 (25.8%)	156/647 (24.1%)	1.07 (0.83, 1.37)	0.62	1.14 (0.85, 1.54)	0.37
Small for gestational age†	26/228 (11.4%)	64/576 (11.1%)	1.03 (0.67, 1.58)	0.91	1.05 (0.66, 1.68)	0.83
Fetal death‡	16/264 (6.1%)	35/682 (5.1%)	1.18 (0.67, 2.10)	0.57	1.09 (0.60, 1.98)	0.78
HIV transmission§
HIV-positive at birth	22/200 (11.0%)	38/508 (7.5%)	1.47 (0.89, 2.42)	0.13	1.55 (0.90, 2.65)	0.11
HIV-positive at 6 weeks¶	15/106 (14.2%)	48/307 (15.6%)	0.91 (0.53, 1.55)	0.72	0.92 (0.51, 1.67)	0.79

^*Multivariate Poisson regression models were adjusted for mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), World Health Organization human immunodeficiency virus (WHO HIV) disease stage, CD4 count, gestational age at enrollment, malaria infection, and treatment regimen.

^†Small for gestational age is defined as birthweight below the tenth percentile of weight for gestational age.

^‡Fetal deaths include miscarriages and stillbirths.

^§HIV infection at birth (from birth to 21 days) or at 6 weeks (from 22 to 49 days) was assessed among liveborn babies.

^¶Among HIV uninfected at birth.

RR = relative risk; CI = confidence interval.