Table 1 Demographic characteristics of Vietnamese-born mothers and Australian-born mothers living in Australia

Maternal BMI

 BMI at start of pregnancy

24.2 (4.3)

21.2 (2.5)

 < 0.001

 BMI at survey completion

25.2 (4.7)

22.5 (2.7)

 < 0.001

Infant age at survey completion

 Age in months

7.2 (5.6)

Range: 1 to 25

7.2 (5.5)

Range: 2 to 25

0.981

Proportion (%)

Proportion (%)

Maternal age

 15–24 years

7.3

4.6

0.052

 25–29 years

25.1

17.0

 30–34 years

34.0

39.0

 35 + years

33.6

39.4

Socioeconomic disadvantage (SEIFA) (quintiles) ^a

 1^st quintile (greatest disadvantage)

10.1

50.0

 < 0.001

 2^nd quintile

13.6

12.4

 3^rd quintile

22.1

9.7

 4^th quintile

24.0

13.6

 5^th quintile (least disadvantage)

30.2

14.3

Main language

 English (yes)

100

33.6

 < 0.001

Spouse/partner usually living in the home

 Yes

95.4

84.6

 < 0.001

Spouse/partner at time of birth

 Yes

95.4

87.3

0.001

Completed educational qualification (trade, certificate, bachelor’s degree, diploma, advanced diploma)

 Educational qualification (yes)

79.2

63.6

 < 0.001

Highest qualification

 Postgraduate/Bachelor’s degree

40.4

41.5

 < 0.001

 Diploma/Certificate

36.2

21.5

 Year 12 other

12.7

22.7

 Year 11 other

10.8

14.2

Gross household income

  > $156,000

12.6

9.0

 < 0.001

 $88,400—$155,999

36.0

18.0

 $52,000—$88,399

27.9

15.7

 $26,000—$51,900

15.0

21.6

  < $25,999

8.5

35.7

Parity

 One

38.7

42.5

0.428

 Two

37.2

35.8

 Three

17.8

18.3

 Four or more

6.3

3.3

Current smoker

 Yes

10.3

1.7

 < 0.001

Employment since birth of child

 Yes

44.0

30.6

0.008