Table 1 Baseline characteristics of pregnant women in rural Vietnam by grouping of BMI measurement at enrolment (<18.5, ≥18.5 kg/m ² )

Demographic factors

Age (years)

26.8

[5.0]

26.4

[4.7]

26.9

[5.1]

0.07

Educational level

 Primary school

160

(15.3)

47

(14.3)

151

(16.3)

0.64

 Secondary school

705

(67.2)

216

(65.6)

603

(65.1)

 University/college

184

(17.5)

66

(20.1)

173

(18.7)

Occupation

0.83

 Farmer/housewife

653

(52.0)

168

(51.1)

484

(52.2)

 Factory worker/trader

418

(33.3)

109

(33.1)

309

(33.3)

 Government official/clerk

186

(14.8)

52

(15.8)

134

(14.5)

Anthropometric factors

Height (cm)

153.6

[4.8]

153.9

[0.26]

153.5

[0.16]

0.23

Mid upper arm circumference enrolment (cm)

23.8

[2.05]

21.9

[1.28]

24.5

[1.82]

<0.001

Antenatal factors

Gravidity

0.21

 Primigravida

386

(30.7)

110

(33.4)

276

(29.7)

 Multigravida

871

(69.3)

219

(66.6)

652

(70.3)

Change of diet when pregnant

941

(74.9)

258

(78.4)

683

(73.7)

0.09

Meat intake during pregnancy at enrolment (no. of times per week)

3.84

[2.28]

3.60

[2.33]

3.92

[2.26]

0.03

Use of nutritional supplements at baseline

699

(55.6)

190

(57.8)

508

(54.8)

0.36

Use of traditional supplements at baseline

57

(4.5)

22

(6.7)

35

(3.8)

0.03

Depression EPDS

235

(18.7)

71

(21.6)

164

(17.7)

0.12