Table 2.
Baseline characteristics of the neonates.a
| Variables | Overall (N=1424) | Intervention group (n=712） | Control group (n=712) | ||||
| Gender, n (%) | |||||||
|
|
Male | 714 (50.1) | 362 (50.8) | 352 (49.4) | |||
|
|
Female | 710 (49.9) | 350 (49.2) | 360 (50.6) | |||
| Gestational ageb (weeks), median (IQR) | 39.1 (38.57-39.9) | 39.1 (38.43-39.86) | 39.1 (38.6-40.0) | ||||
| Birth weightc (grams), median (IQR) | 3200 (2900-3450) | 3150 (2950-3450) | 3200 (2900-3450) | ||||
| Feeding patternsd, n (%) | |||||||
|
|
Breastfeeding | 1062 (74.6) | 523 (73.5) | 539 (75.8) | |||
|
|
Nonbreastfeeding | 28 (2) | 13 (1.8) | 15 (2.1) | |||
|
|
Mixed feeding | 333 (23.4) | 176 (24.7) | 157 (22.1) | |||
| Parity, n (%) | |||||||
|
|
First child | 630 (44.2) | 317 (44.5) | 313 (44) | |||
|
|
Second child | 677 (47.5) | 338 (47.5) | 339 (47.6) | |||
|
|
Third child or later | 117 (8.2) | 57 (8) | 60 (8.4) | |||
| Status of jaundice before dischargee, n (%) | |||||||
|
|
Not present | 211 (14.8) | 108 (15.2) | 103 (14.5) | |||
|
|
Present | 1212 (85.2) | 604 (84.8) | 608 (85.5) | |||
| Delivery method, n (%) | |||||||
|
|
Natural delivery | 899 (63.1) | 476 (66.9) | 482 (67.7) | |||
|
|
Cesarean section | 466 (32.7) | 236 (33.2) | 230 (32.3) | |||
aP values were obtained using 2-sided Student t test or Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous and χ2 test for categorical variables; all P>.05.
bGestational age was unknown for 1 intervention group neonate and 1 control group neonate.
cBirth weight was unknown for 2 intervention group neonates and 2 control group neonates.
dFeeding pattern was unknown for 1 control group neonate.
eStatus of jaundice before discharge represents if the neonate developed jaundice at baseline; this was unknown for 1 control group neonate.