Structural equation model for maternal (early and late pregnancy) and infant factors associated with infant length-for-age z scores at 6 months of age
| Indirectly associated with infant length-for-age z scores through birth weight (g) | Coefficient (95% CI)* | p Value |
|---|---|---|
| Maternal factors | ||
| Demographic factors | ||
| Gravidity | ||
| Primigravida | Reference | |
| Multigravida | 124.8 (76.0 to 173.5) | <0.001 |
| Nutritional and health status | ||
| Height at enrolment (per 5 cm) | 68.5 (44 to 93) | <0.001 |
| Body mass index at enrolment (kg/m2) | 45.6 (34.2 to 57.1) | <0.001 |
| Gestational weight gain (kg) | 21.4 (12.6 to 30.1) | <0.001 |
| Micronutrient factors | ||
| Ferritin at 32 weeks (log2 μg/L)† | −41.5 (−78.0 to −5.0) | 0.03 |
| Infant factors | ||
| Male sex | 65.6 (21.1 to 110.1) | 0.004 |
| Gestational age at delivery (weeks) | 58.8 (46.1 to 71.4) | <0.001 |
| Directly associated with infant length-for-age z scores | Coefficient (95% CI)‡ | p Value |
| Maternal factors | ||
| Demographic factors | ||
| Wealth index | 0.66 (0.01 to 1.31) | 0.05 |
| Nutritional factors | ||
| Height at enrolment (cm) | 0.04 (0.03 to 0.06) | <0.001 |
| Micronutrient factors | ||
| Vitamin D at 32 weeks (per 20 nmol/L) | −0.06 (−0.11 to −0.01) | 0.03 |
| Infant factors | ||
| Birth weight (per 100 g) | 0.07 (0.05 to 0.09) | <0.001 |
| Infant hospitalisation | −0.17 (−0.31 to −0.03) | 0.02 |
| Male sex | −0.20 (−0.32 to −0.09) | <0.001 |
*Regression coefficient represents estimated mean change in birth weight (g) associated with the maternal or infant factor (note for ferritin this is for a twofold increase in ferritin levels).
†log2 transformed—regression coefficient represents mean change in infant birth weight associated with a twofold change in ferritin.
‡Regression coefficient represents estimated mean change in length-for-age z score associated with the maternal or infant factor.