Table 1

Maternal, household and child characteristics corresponding to children retained at 36 months (n=1017) and of those lost to follow-up (n=154)

Daily IFA*
(n=336)
Twice-weekly IFA*
(n=353)
Twice-weekly MMN*
(n=328)
Lost to follow-up*
(n=154)
Maternal characteristics
Height (cm)154.3 [4.8]153.9 [4.7]153.2 [4.8]152.9 [4.8]
Body mass index (kg/m2)19.9 [1.95]19.8 [1.9]19.9 [2.0]19.8 [2.2]
 Low (<18.5 kg/m2)77 (24.2)87 (25.9)83 (26.9)28 (31.1)
 Normal (18.5–25 kg/m2)239 (75.2)247 (73.5)217 (70.2)60 (66.7)
 High (>25 kg/m2)2 (0.6)2 (0.6)9 (2.9)2 (2.2)
Age (years)
 <2038 (11.9)20 (5.9)22 (7.1)7 (7.8)
 20–29235 (73.7)245 (72.9)229 (74.1)67 (74.4)
 ≥3046 (14.4)71 (21.1)58 (18.8)16 (17.8)
Education†
 Primary school53 (15.5)42 (11.9)60 (18.1)27 (17.4)
 Secondary school169 (49.3)197 (55.8)166 (50.0)62 (40.0)
 High school88 (25.7)75 (21.3)85 (25.6)43 (27.7)
 University/college33 (9.6)39 (11.1)21 (6.3)23 (14.8)
Occupation†
 Farmer140 (40.8)151 (42.8)143 (43.1)43 (27.7)
 Factory worker57 (16.6)52 (14.7)41 (12.4)25 (16.1)
 Trader58 (16.9)68 (19.3)63 (18.9)36 (23.2)
 Government official31 (9.0)44 (12.5)25 (7.5)26 (16.7)
 Clerk17 (5.0)10 (2.8)13 (3.9)5 (3.2)
 Not in income-generating work38 (11.1)22 (6.2)41 (12.4)17 (10.9)
 Other2 (0.6)6 (1.7)6 (1.8)3 (1.9)
Gravidity
 0127 (37.0)92 (26.1)106 (32.0)46 (29.9)
 1–2178 (51.9)208 (58.9)182 (55.0)85 (55.2)
 ≥338 (11.1)53 (15.0)43 (13.0)23 (14.9)
Nutritional status
–At enrolment
 Haemoglobin (g/dL)12.3 [1.4]12.1 [1.1]12.3 [1.2]12.5 [1.2]
 Ferritin (μg/L)74.5 {47 to 125}83 {54 to 129}79 {49 to 124}89 {49 to 134}
 B12 (pmol/L)398 {319 to 504}395.5 {319 to 502}411 {323 to 518}414 {329 to 514}
 Folate (nmol/L)27.6 {21.0 to 35.4}28.5 {21.4 to 34.5}27.7 {21.3 to 33.1}27.9 {20.9 to 33.5}
–At 32 weeks gestation
 Haemoglobin (g/dL)12.5 [1.4]12.4 [1.1]12.3 [1.2]12.2 [1.2]
 Ferritin (μg/L)35 {24.5 to 55}27 {18 to 37}22 {14 to 35}25.5 {15 to 38.5}
 B12 (pmol/L)234 {186.5 to 282.5}231.5 {188 to 285}233 {190 to 290}219.5 {175 to 263.5}
 Folate (nmol/L)29.9 {24.0 to 34.5}29.3 {24.5 to 33.9}25.5 {17.9 to 32.0}25.6 {18.5 to 32.2}
Household characteristics
Type of toilet
  None2 (0.6)2 (0.6)12 (3.7)2 (3.6)
  Pit latrine48 (14.5)57 (16.2)46 (14.2)4 (7.1)
  Compartment latrine63 (19.0)54 (15.4)50 (15.4)6 (10.7)
  Flush toilet216 (65.9)238 (67.8)216 (66.7)44 (78.6)
Child characteristics
Sex
 Male165 (51.7)184 (54.8)159 (51.5)42 (49.4)
 Female154 (48.3)152 (45.2)150 (48.5)43 (50.6)
Birth weight (g)†3156 [424]3186 [355]3137 [424]3065 [495]
Preterm delivery†35 (10.6)39 (11.4)41 (13.3)26 (17.9)
  • *Data are number (%), mean [SD] or median {25th to 75th centile}.

  • IFA , iron-folic acid; MMN , multiple micronutrients.