Table 4.
Nutritional status of the women
| Variables | Total, % (n) | Intervention, % (n) | Control, % (n) | χ 2values | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaemia status | |||||
| Anaemic (Hb < 11 g/dl) | 17.0 (187) | 10.5 (58) | 23.7 (129) | 33.6 | <0.001 |
| Normal (Hb ≥ 11 g/dl) | 83.0 (910) | 89.5 (494) | 76.3 (416) | ||
| Hb concentration [mean, SD] | 12.38 [1.39] | 12.65 [1.24] | 12.10 [1.48] | 6.71 | <0.001 a |
| Severity of anaemia (n = 187) | |||||
| Mild (Hb = 9–10.9 g/dl) | 90.4 (169) | 98.3 (57) | 86.8 (112) | 6.03 | 0.014 |
| Moderate (Hb = 7–8.9 g/dl) | 9.6 (18) | 1.7 (1) | 13.2 (17) | ||
| Acute wasting status | |||||
| Wasting (MUAC < 23 cm) | 8.9 (98) | 3.4 (19) | 14.5 (79) | 41.18 | <0.001 |
| Normal (MUAC ≥ 23 cm) | 91.1 (999) | 96.6 (533) | 85.5 (466) | ||
| MUAC [mean, SD] | 25.47 [2.52] | 26.06 [2.46] | 24.87 [2.45] | 8.05 | <0.001 a |
| Underweight status in the first trimesterb | |||||
| Underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) | 3.8 (32) | 1.8 (7) | 5.5 (25) | 9.12 | 0.01 |
| Normal (BMI ≥ 18.5 kg/m2) | 76.3 (646) | 76.2 (297) | 76.4 (349) | ||
| Overweight/obese (BMI > 25.0 kg/m2) | 20.0 (169) | 22.1 (86) | 18.2 (83) | ||
| BMI [mean, SD] | 23.06 [2.89] | 23.46 [2.97] | 22.73 [2.78] | 3.71 | <0.001 a |
| Estimated average weight gain | |||||
| Estimated average weight in the first trimester [SD]b | 60.09 [8.83] | 61.86 [9.14] | 58.57 [7.67] | 5.64 | <0.001 a |
| Estimated average weight in the third trimester [SD]c | 64.86 [8.78] | 66.74 [9.52] | 63.26 [7.76] | 5.86 | <0.001 a |
| Estimated average weight gain between third and first trimester [SD]d | 4.76 [2.02] | 4.88 [2.17] | 4.66 [1.88] | 1.56 | 0.119a |
| Overall maternal undernutrition | |||||
| Undernourishede | 11.4 (125) | 4.7 (26) | 18.2 (99) | 49.17 | <0.001 |
| Normal | 88.6 (972) | 95.3 (526) | 81.8 (446) | ||
Note: Bolded p value indicate significant association at p < 0.05.
Abbreviations: ANC, antenatal care; BMI, body mass index; Hb, haemoglobin; MUAC, mid‐upper arm circumference; SD, standard deviation.
a
Mean was compared using independent t test.
b
Overall total = 847; intervention = 390; control = 457.
c
Overall total = 849; intervention = 389; control = 460.
d
Overall total = 843; intervention = 389; control = 454; the weight gain is an estimate between any time within third trimester and first trimester, which are retrieved from ANC records.
e
Maternal undernutrition was assessed using low MUAC (<23 cm) during delivery or low BMI (<18.5 kg/m2) in first trimester or both.