Table 2

Obstetric characteristics of respondents (n=422)

CharacteristicsFrequency distributionSmall for gestational age (SGA)Appropriate for gestational age (AGA)Large for gestational age (LGA)P value*
Total (%) SGA (%) AGA (%) LGA (%)
Number of pregnancies
 0–1111 (26.3)13 (35.1)92 (26.6)6 (15.4)0.142
 2 or more311 (73.7)24 (64.9)254 (73.4)33 (84.6)
Number of deliveries
 0–1120 (26.3)13 (35.1)100 (28.9)7 (18.0)0.228
 2 or more302 (71.6)24 (64.9)246 (71.1)32 (82.0)
Frequency of antenatal visits
 Less than 8304 (72.0)33 (89.2)249 (72.0)22 (56.4)0.006 +
 8 or more118 (28.0)4 (10.8)97 (28.0)17 (43.6)
Prepregnancy body mass index
 Overweight130 (30.8)8 (21.6)106 (30.6)16 (41.0)0.438
 Normal279 (66.1)28 (75.7)229 (66.2)22 (56.4)
 Underweight13 (3.1)1 (2.7)11 (3.2)1 (2.6)
Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine intake
 None25 (5.9)2 (5.4)21 (6.1)2 (5.1)0.031 +
 1–3 doses249 (59.0)28 (75.7)205 (59.2)16 (41.0)
 >3 doses148 (35.1)7 (18.9)120 (34.7)21 (53.9)
Tetanus-diphtheria immunisation
 Not immunised31 (7.4)2 (5.4)25 (7.2)4 (10.3)0.706
 Immunised391 (92.6)35 (94.6)321 (92.8)35 (89.7)
Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) use
 No ITNs use152 (36.0)20 (54.0)119 (34.5)13 (33.3)0.057
 ITNs use270 (64.0)17 (46.0)227 (65.6)26 (66.7)
Family planning (FP) use
 No FP use347 (82.2)31 (83.8)286 (82.7)30 (76.9)0.652
 FP use75 (17.8)6 (16.2)60 (17.3)9 (23.1)
Iron folic acid intake
 No7 (1.7)0 (0.0)7 (2.0)0 (0.0)1.000
 Yes415 (98.3)37 (100.0)339 (98.0)39 (100.0)
Gestational malaria infection
 Episode59 (14.0)32 (86.5)46 (13.3)8 (20.5)0.466
 No episode363 (86.0)5 (13.5)300 (86.7)31 (79.5)
Type (place) of delivery
 Skilled (facility)392 (92.9)33 (89.2)325 (93.9)34 (87.2)0.196
 Unskilled (home)30 (7.1)4 (10.8)21 (6.1)5 (12.8)
Mode of delivery
 Vaginal379 (89.8)31 (83.8)321 (92.8)27 (69.2)<0.001 +
 Caesarian section43 (10.2)6 (16.2)25 (7.2)12 (30.8)
  • +p<0.05.

  • *χ2/Fisher’s exact test.