Table 1 Characteristics of mothers at recruitment (baseline measurement) and characteristics of infants at delivery and 6 weeks in Ha Nam province, Vietnam (n = 1049)

Maternal age at enrolment (years)

26.7

[4.9]

<20

41

(3.9)

20–24

340

(32.4)

25–29

426

(40.6)

30–34

161

(15.4)

≥35

81

(7.7)

Maternal height

153.6

[4.7]

<145 cm (short maternal stature)

38

(3.6)

Maternal body mass index

19.9

[1.98]

Underweight (<18.5 kg/m²)

272

(26.0)

Normal (18.5-25 kg/m²)

761

(72.6)

Overweight (>25 kg/m²)

15

(1.4)

Educational level

Primary school

160

(15.3)

Secondary school

705

(67.2)

University/college

184

(17.5)

Occupation

Farmer/housewife

561

(53.5)

Factory worker/trader

350

(33.4)

Government official/clerk

138

(13.2)

Main energy source

Gas

849

(79.9)

Firewood/Straw/Hay

163

(15.4)

Charcoal/coal

30

(2.8)

Electric

20

(1.9)

Type of toilet

Flush toilet/septic tank

716

(67.4)

Compartment latrine

173

(16.3)

Pit latrine

155

(14.6)

None

18

(1.7)

Main water source

Rain water

917

(86.4)

Tap/piped water’

87

(8.2)

Well water/river water

56

(5.3)

Gravidity

Primigravida

328

(31.3)

Multigravida

721

(68.7)

Supplements taken during trial intervention

Daily IFA supplements

351

(33.5)

Twice weekly IFA supplements

363

(34.6)

MMN supplements

335

(31.9)

Micronutrient status in late pregnancy

Haemoglobin (g/dL)

12.3

[1.23]

Ferritin (ug/L)

28

{17 to 42}

B12 (pmol/L)

232

{99 to 601}

Folate (nmol/L)

28.7

{6.8 to 90}

Iodine (ug/L)

52.9

{3.3 to 307.4}

Infant characteristics

Sex

Male

558

(53.2)

Birthweight (grams)

3157.6

[396.6]

Low birth weight (<2500 gms)

32

(3.1)

Gestational age (weeks)

39.1

[2.0]

Preterm (<37 weeks)

166

(15.8)

Exclusive breast feeding at 6 weeks of age

377

(33.3)

Use of dietary supplements for the child in the first 6 months

117

(11.2)