TABLE 2.
Baseline characteristics of enrolled infants and their families, by study group1
| Variables | Intervention (n = 408) | Control (n = 408) |
|---|---|---|
| Infant characteristics at enrollment (age 0–7 d) | ||
| Age in days at enrollment | 4.76 ± 1.37 | 4.69 ± 1.39 |
| Birth weight, reported or documented,2 kg | 2.77 ± 0.42 | 2.74 ± 0.44 |
| Gestational age,3 wk | 38.8 ± 1.66 | 38.7 ± 1.81 |
| Prematurity, n (%) | 30 (7.4) | 48 (11.8) |
| Low birth weight as <2500 g at enrollment, n (%) | 114 (28.0) | 111 (27.2) |
| Delivered at home, n (%) | 87 (21.3) | 70 (17.2) |
| Number of male infants, n (%) | 207 (50.7) | 217 (53.2) |
| Breastfeeding initiated <1 h of birth, n (%) | 117 (28.7) | 115 (28.2) |
| Age at initiation of breastfeeding, median (IQR), h | 2 (0, 6) | 2 (0, 5) |
| Weight,4 kg | 2.74 ± 0.43 | 2.74 ± 0.44 |
| Length,4 cm | 48.03 ± 2.07 | 47.94 ± 2.25 |
| LAZ using WHO Growth Standards | −1.24 ± 1.07 | −1.27 ± 1.09 |
| Stunting as <2 LAZ, n (%) | 93 (22.9) | 96 (23.5) |
| WLZ score using WHO Growth Standards5 | −1.00 ± 1.03 | −0.97 ± 1.06 |
| Wasting as <2 WLZ,5n (%) | 59 (15.7) | 51 (13.8) |
| WAZ score using WHO Growth Standards | −1.40 ± 1.03 | −1.40 ± 1.02 |
| Underweight as <2 WAZ, n (%) | 102 (25.1) | 104 (25.5) |
| BMI-Z using WHO Growth Standards | −1.24 ± 1.02 | −1.20 ± 1.03 |
| Midupper arm circumference, cm | 9.43 ± 0.84 | 9.41 ± 0.81 |
| Head circumference, cm | 33.16 ± 1.31 | 33.15 ± 1.54 |
| Sociodemographic characteristics | ||
| Wealth quintile, n (%) | ||
| Poorest | 87 (21.3) | 77 (18.8) |
| Very poor | 84 (20.6) | 79 (19.4) |
| Poor | 88 (21.6) | 75 (18.4) |
| Less poor | 75 (18.4) | 88 (21.6) |
| Least poor | 74 (18.1) | 89 (21.8) |
| Annual family income, median (IQR), US$ | 1580 (1580, 3160) | 1580 (1422, 3160) |
| Nuclear family, n (%) | 189 (46.3) | 167 (40.9) |
| Religion | ||
| Hindu, n (%) | 324 (79.4) | 326 (79.9) |
| Maternal characteristics | ||
| Age, y | 24.43 ± 3.74 | 24.54 ± 3.72 |
| Duration of schooling, median (IQR), y | 8 (0, 10) | 8 (2, 10) |
| Never been to school, n (%) | 118 (28.9) | 101 (24.8) |
| Homemakers, n (%) | 406 (99.5) | 404 (99.0) |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 22.70 ± 3.63 | 22.56 ± 3.56 |
| BMI <18.5 kg/m2, n (%) | 34 (8.4) | 43 (10.5) |
| BMI ≥25.0 kg/m2, n (%) | 99 (24.3) | 95 (23.3) |
| MUAC, cm | 24.4 ± 2.8 | 24.2 ± 2.8 |
| Height, cm | 151.25 ± 5.36 | 151.38 ± 5.99 |
| Height <150 cm, n (%) | 158 (38.7) | 162 (39.7) |
| Paternal characteristics | ||
| Age, y | 28.02 ± 4.32 | 28.21 ± 4.33 |
| Duration of schooling, median (IQR), y | 9 (5, 10.5) | 8 (5, 12) |
| Unemployed, n (%) | 21 (5.2) | 23 (5.6) |
Data are reported as means ± SDs unless stated otherwise. BMI-Z, BMI z score; LAZ, length-for-age z score; MUAC, midupper arm circumference; WAZ, weight-for-age z score; WLZ, weight-for-length z score.
Data available for 319 infants in the intervention group and 336 infants in the control group.
Documented gestational age (ultrasound/antenatal card/reported months of gestation at birth).
One mother–infant dyad in the intervention group refused anthropometric measurements after providing consent.
WLZ scores could not be calculated for 32 and 38 infants in the intervention and control groups, respectively, as length at enrollment was <45 cm. The WHO anthropometric z-score calculator has no provision to estimate WLZ for length <45 cm.