Table 1 Characteristics of nulliparous trial participants randomized to eye-mask and earplugs or headband

Age (years)

30.2 ± 4.5

30.0 ± 4.7

0.70

Gestational age at recruitment (weeks)

35.2 ± 1.2

35.1 ± 1.1

0.79

Body mass index (kg/m2)

28.4 ± 4.2

27.9 ± 4.0

0.43

Ethnicity

 Malay

59 (50.4%)

75 (64.1%)

0.17

 Chinese

32 (27.4%)

26 (22.2%)

 Indian

22 (18.8%)

14 (12.0%)

 Others^a

4 (3.4%)

2 (1.7%)

Occupation

 Paid employment

82 (70.1%)

76 (65.0%)

0.49

 Homemakers or in training

35 (29.9%)

41 (35.0%)

House type

 Semi-detached

12 (10.3%)

15 (12.8%)

0.83

 Terrace

45 (38.5%)

44 (37.6%)

 Condominium/ flat

60 (51.3%)

58 (49.6%)

 Sharing bedroom

4 (3.4%)

2 (1.7%)

0.68^b

Room ventilation

 Fan

43 (36.8%)

49 (41.9%)

0.70

 Air-conditioned

62 (53.0%)

58 (49.6%)

 Fan & air-conditioned

12 (10.3%)

10 (8.5%)

Type of bed

 Double

116 (99.1%)

116 (99.1%)

1.00^b

 Single

1 (0.9%)

1 (0.9%)

 Night light

20 (17.1%)

17 (14.5%)

0.72

 Shift work (no night shift)

21 (17.9%)

32 (27.4%)

0.12

 Gestational diabetes mellitus

35 (29.9%)

29 (24.8%)

0.38

 Diet control

17 (48.6%)

18 (62.1%)

0.53

 Metformin

14 (40.0%)

8 (27.6%)

 Insulin

4 (11.4%)

3 (10.3%)

 Hypertension in pregnancy

5 (4.3%)

8 (6.8%)

0.57^b

 Anemia in pregnancy

19 (16.2%)

24 (20.5%)

0.40

 Asthma

6 (5.1%)

4 (3.4%)

0.75^b