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Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study participants

From: The effect of blister packaging Iron and Folate on adherence to medication and hemoglobin levels among pregnant women at National Referral Hospital antenatal clinics in a low to middle income country: a Randomised Controlled Trial (The IFAd Trial)

Variable

IFA in blister packaging

IFA in loose packaging

All

Number of participants [n (%)]

476 (50.1)

474 (49.9)

950

Age [mean ± SD]

25.7 ± (5.3)

25.2 ± 4.8

 

Primigravida [n (%)]

159 (33.4)

164 (34.7)

323 (34.0)

Gestation age in weeks [mean ± SD]

21.9 ± 3.3

23.3 ± 3.4

 

Married [n (%)]

385 (80.9)

390 (82.3)

775 (81.6)

Education

 No education [n (%)]

5 (1.1)

4 (0.8)

9 (1,0)

 Primary school (7 years) [n (%)]

96 (20.2)

97 (20.5)

193 (20.3)

 Secondary school (6 years) [n (%)]

286 (60.1)

311 (65.6)

597 (62.8)

 Post-secondary (3–5 years) [n (%)]

89 (18.7)

62 (13.1)

151 (16.0)

 Unemployed [n (%)]

223 (46.8)

206 (43.5)

429 (45.1)

Medical history

 HIV positive [n (%)]

36 (7.6)

42 (8.9)

78 (8.3)

 P falciparum infection pregnancy [n (%)]

125 (26.4)

133 (28.2)

258 (27.3)

 Taken IFA before enrolment [n (%)]

172 (36.1)

179 (37.8)

351 (36.9)

IPT doses

 None [n (%)]

329 (69.1)

332 (70.0)

661 (69.6)

 One [n (%)]

130 (27.3)

130 (27.4)

260 (27.4)

 Two [n (%)]

17 (3.6)

12 (2.5)

29 (3.0)

Deworming in pregnancy

 None [n (%)]

379 (79.6)

380 (80.2)

759 (79.9)

 At least one dose [n (%)]

97 (20.4)

94 (19.8)

191 (20.1)

 Hemoglobin [mean ± SD]

11.6 ± 1.2

11.6 ± 1.4

 

Anemia categories

 No anemia [n (%)]

347 (72.9)

333 (71.2)

680 (71.6)

 Any anemia < 11.0 mg/dl [n (%)]

129 (27.1)

141 (29.8)

270 (28.4)

Dietary history

 Meals per day [mean ± SD]

2.6 ± 0.9

2.5 ± 0.8

 

 Fruits per week [mean ± SD]

4.0 ± 2.9

3.8 ± 2.6

 

 Green veg. Per week [mean ± SD]

3.0 ± 2.4

2.9 ± 2.5

 

 Meat per week [mean ± SD]

1.8 ± 1.7

1.7 ± 1.8

 

 Fish per week [mean ± SD]

1.5 ± 1.8

1.6 ± 1.7

 

 Chicken per week [mean ± SD]

0.6 ± 1.0

0.7 ± 1.3

 

 Beans/peas per week [mean ± SD]

3.8 ± 2.5

4.0 ± 2.3

 
  1. SD Standard Deviation