Baseline characteristics of mothers and delivery and newborn care practices (post-randomisation)
| Characteristic | Placebo | VAS |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline characteristics of mothers | (n=5962) | (n=6256) |
| ANC visits during current pregnancy | ||
| Never | 474/5693 (8%) | 551/5947 (9%) |
| 1–3 | 2658/5693 (47%) | 2608/5947 (44%) |
| >3 | 2561/5693 (45%) | 2788/5947 (47%) |
| Iron or multivitamin supplementation during current pregnancy | ||
| Yes | 4342/5962 (73%) | 4579/6256 (73%) |
| Addiction during pregnancy period | ||
| Tobacco | 64 (1%) | 52 (1%) |
| Non-smoking tobacco* | 182 (3%) | 143 (2%) |
| Reproductive history | ||
| Gravida, mean (SD) | 2.51 (2.57) | 2.49 (2.78) |
| Delivery and newborn care practices | (n=5380) | (n=5648) |
| Place of delivery | ||
| At home | 2892/5341 (54%) | 3169/5632 (56%) |
| Government health facility | 715/5341 (13%) | 838/5632 (15%) |
| Private hospital | 930/5341 (17%) | 908/5632 (16%) |
| Private clinic | 804/5341 (15%) | 717/5632 (13%) |
| Delivery attended | ||
| Skilled provider† | 2779/5346 (52%) | 2800/5628 (50%) |
| Unskilled | 339/5346 (48%) | 2828/5628 (50%) |
| Use of clean delivery kits | 3508/5291 (66%) | 3604/5420 (67%) |
| Gender of child | ||
| Male | 2772/5378 (52%) | 2965/5645 (53%) |
| Female | 2606/5378 (49%) | 2680/5645 (48%) |
| Birth weight (kg) | ||
| <2.5 | 306/3693 (8.3%) | 331/3549 (9.3%) |
| ≥2.5 | 3387/3693 (92%) | 3218/3549 (91%) |
| Birth weight mean (SD), kg | 2.82 (0.72) | 2.81 (0.74) |
| BCG given to newborn after birth | ||
| Yes | 1614/5370 (30%) | 1629/5630 (29%) |
Data are n, n (%) or mean (SD).
N.B. Denominator can vary due to not reported responses.
*Pan, niswar and gutka.
†Doctor, nurse and Lady Health Visitor.
VAS, vitamin A supplementation.