Baseline characteristics of cases and controls
| Characteristic | Cases (n = 72) | Controls (n = 72) |
|---|---|---|
| Number (with percentages in parentheses) unless specified. | ||
| SD, standard deviation. | ||
| *Matched. | ||
| †p<0.01, 95% CI −0.04 to −0.1; ‡p<0.001, 95% CI −1.7 to −1.2. | ||
| Characteristics of child | ||
| Child’s age (months)* | Mean 10.5 (SD 1.6) | Mean 10.6 (SD 1.5) |
| Child’s gender—male* | 40 (55.6) | 40 (55.6) |
| Birth order 3 and higher | 20 (27.8) | 16 (22.2) |
| Birth weight (kg) | Mean 2.7 (SD 0.4) | Mean 2.9 (SD 0.5)† |
| Current weight (kg) | Mean 6.7 (SD 0.6) | Mean 8.1 (SD 0.7)‡ |
| History of chronic diarrhoea | 1 (1.4) | 0 (0) |
| History of tuberculosis, measles, lower respiratory infection, malaria | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Immunisation completed for age | 65 (90.3) | 69 (95.8) |
| Duration of exclusive breast feeding (months) | Mean 4.5 (SD 1.8) | Mean 4.4 (SD 2.0) |
| Duration of supplementary breast feeding (months) | Mean 5.8 (SD 2.4) | Mean 5.8 (2.8) |
| Details of pregnancy | ||
| No. of antenatal checks | Mean 5.8 (SD 1.9) | Mean 5.4 (SD 2.0) |
| Absence of obstetric complications | 67 (93.1) | 69 (95.8) |
| Characteristics of mother | ||
| Mother illiterate | 16 (22.2) | 19 (26.4) |
| Mother’s age (years) | Mean 24.6 (SD 4.3) | Mean 24.5 (SD 3.9) |
| Years of marriage | Mean 5.5 (SD 4.0) | Mean 5.0 (3.1) |
| Spacing of pregnancy (no. of years after previous childbirth) | Mean 1.9 (SD 1.7) | Mean 2.0 (SD 2.2) |
| Mother’s occupation—housewife | 59 (81.9) | 59 (81.9) |
| Mother’s body mass index <18 | 23 (31.9) | 21 (29.2) |
| Mother’s weight (Kg) | Mean 46.7 (SD 8.1) | Mean 49.8 (SD 10.9) |
| Characteristics of father | ||
| Father illiterate | 10 (13.9) | 9 (12.5) |
| Father—unskilled labourer | 21 (29.2) | 18 (25.0) |
| Details of family | ||
| Access to medical care | 72 (100) | 72 (100) |
| Nuclear family | 31 (43.1) | 37 (51.4) |
| Total number of children | Mean 2.0 (SD 1.0) | Mean 1.8 (SD 0.9) |
| Socioeconomic indicators | ||
| House made of brick and cement | 42 (58.3) | 43 (59.7) |
| Inability to buy food in past month | 1 (1.4) | 3 (4.2) |
| 3 square meals per day | 65 (90.3) | 68 (94.4) |
| Drinking water on tap | 12 (16.7) | 14 (19.4) |
| Toilet at home | 16 (22.2) | 20 (27.8) |