Table 1 Sample description according to household, maternal, and child characteristics 12 (n = 325) and 18 months (n = 331) after birth in a cohort of children born in Fortaleza during the COVID-19 pandemic
12 months 2021 | 18 months 2022 | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
n (%) | n (%) | ||
Family and household characteristics | |||
Food security scale | 0.022 | ||
Secure | 109 (33.5) | 142 (42.9) | |
Mild insecurity | 151 (46.4) | 145 (43.8) | |
Moderate insecurity | 45 (14.0) | 26 (7.9) | |
Severe insecurity | 20 (6.1) | 18 (5.4) | |
Number of residents | 0.932 | ||
2–3 | 132 (40.6) | 138 (41.7) | |
4–5 | 152 (46.8) | 154 (46.5) | |
6 or more | 41 (12.6) | 39 (11.8) | |
Number of residents under 18 years of age | 0.974 | ||
1 | 138 (42.5) | 139 (42.0) | |
2 | 118 (36.3) | 123 (37.1) | |
3 or more | 69 (21.2) | 69 (20.9) | |
Head of the household | 0.974 | ||
Infant’s father | 198 (60.9) | 204 (61.6) | |
Infant’s mother | 83 (25.5) | 82 (24.8) | |
Other | 44 (13.5) | 45 (13.6) | |
Education of the head of the household (years of formal education) | 0.306 | ||
0–7 years | 92 (28.4) | 77 (23.3) | |
8–11 years | 207 (63.9) | 229 (69.2) | |
> 11 years | 25 (7.7) | 25 (7.6) | |
Socioeconomic statusa | 0.929 | ||
A/B | 24 (7.4) | 22 (6.7) | |
C1/C2 | 159 (48.9) | 162 (48.9) | |
D/E | 142 (43.7) | 147 (44.4) | |
Family income (MW)b | < 0.001 | ||
Less than 1 | 130 (40.0) | 81 (24.5) | |
1–2 | 166 (51.1) | 210 (63.4) | |
3 or more | 20 (8.9) | 40 (12.1) | |
Family income reduction after physical distancing begun | 0.826 | ||
No | 74 (22.8) | 73 (22.1) | |
Yes | 251 (77.2) | 258 (77.9) | |
Participate in cash transfer programs | 0.003 | ||
No | 182 (56.0) | 147 (44.4) | |
Yes | 143 (44.0) | 184 (55.6) | |
Maternal characteristics | |||
Skin color | 0.925 | ||
White | 59 (18.1) | 57 (17.2) | |
Brown | 231 (71.1) | 236 (71.3) | |
Black | 35 (10.8) | 38 (11.5) | |
Age | 0.842 | ||
< 24 years | 91 (28.0) | 90 (27.2) | |
25–29 years | 94 (28.9) | 91 (27.5) | |
30–34 years | 67 (20.6) | 74 (22.4) | |
≥ 35 years | 73 (22.5) | 76 (23.0) | |
Education (years of formal education) | 0.822 | ||
0–7 years | 37 (11.5) | 33 (10.0) | |
8–11 years | 221 (68.4) | 229 (69.2) | |
> 11 years | 65 (20.1) | 69 (20.9) | |
Lives with a partner | 0.754 | ||
No | 81 (24.9) | 86 (26.0) | |
Yes | 244 (75.1) | 245 (74.0) | |
Smoke | 0.564 | ||
No | 306 (94.1) | 315 (95.2) | |
Yes | 19 (5.9) | 16 (4.8) | |
Alcohol consumption | 0.219 | ||
No | 264 (81.2) | 256 (77.3) | |
Yes | 61 (18.8) | 75 (22.7) | |
Pre-pandemic working arrangements | 0.986 | ||
Not working | 129 (39.7) | 132 (39.9) | |
Informal | 106 (32.6) | 106 (32.0) | |
Formal (CLT)c | 90 (27.7) | 93 (28.1) | |
Continued working formally after March (physical distancing started) | 0.992 | ||
Was not working | 253 (72.1) | 238 (71.9) | |
Stopped working | 24 (6.8) | 23 (7.0) | |
Continued working | 74 (21.1) | 70 (21.2) | |
Maternal income reduction after physical distancing begun | 0.853 | ||
No | 126 (38.8) | 126 (38.1) | |
Yes | 199 (61.2) | 205 (61.9) | |
Number of prenatal appointments | 0.747 | ||
5 or less | 45 (14.0) | 43 (13.1) | |
6 or more | 277 (86.0) | 285 (86.9) | |
Common mental disorders | 0.108 | ||
< 8 | 241 (74.1) | 263 (79.5) | |
≥ 8 | 84 (25.9) | 68 (20.5) | |
Infant’s characteristics | |||
Sex | 0.894 | ||
Male | 167 (51.4) | 163 (51.9) | |
Female | 158 (48.6) | 151 (48.1) | |
Birth weight classification | 0.995 | ||
Underweight | 31 (9.5) | 30 (9.6) | |
Eutrophic | 257 (79.1) | 249 (79.3) | |
Overweight | 37 (11.4) | 35 (11.1) | |
Participates in visitation programs | 0.203 | ||
No | 304 (93.5) | 317 (95.8) | |
Yes | 21 (6.5) | 14 (4.2) | |
Breastfeeding pattern | 0.988 | ||
Bottle-feeding | 99 (30.5) | 99 (29.9) | |
Complementary breastfeeding | 153 (47.1) | 157 (47.4) | |
Predominant or exclusive breastfeeding | 73 (22.5) | 75 (22.7) | |