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Table 3 Distribution of birth outcome variables by caste groups in a birth cohort study: at birth, 6, 24 and 36 months after birth

From: Impact of caste on the neurodevelopment of young children from birth to 36 months of age: a birth cohort study in Chitwan Valley, Nepal

 

Caste groups, Mean (SD) or Median

Pfor trend

 

Brahmin

Chetri

Vaishya

Shudra

(N = 37)

(N = 13)

(N = 26)

(N = 18)

In utero exposure of toxic elements (n = 94), mean

     

Arsenic (μg/L)§

1.3 (1.4)

1.3 (0.3)

1.7 (0.7)

1.5 (0.5)

<0.01

Lead (μg/L)§

30.5 (40.3)

31.4 (27.7)

36.7 (39.6)

26.4 (17.5)

0.59

Anthropometric characteristics, mean

     

Birth weight (kg) (n = 94)

3.0 (0.5)

3.0 (0.4)

3.1 (0.4)

3.1 (0.5)

0.16

Body weight (kg) at 6 months after birth (n = 94)

7.3 (1.1)

7.3 (0.8)

7.3 (0.7)

7.3 (0.8)

0.93

Body weight (kg) at 24 months after birth (n = 89)

11.5 (1.6)

11.0 (1.3)

10.9 (1.2)

10.8 (1.0)

0.09

Body weight (kg) at 36 months after birth (n = 83)

12.9 (1.7)

12.5 (1.1)

12.4 (1.4)

12.6 (1.3)

0.30

NBAS III cluster score at birth (n = 94), median

     

Habituation

27

27

28

26.5

0.47

Orientation

45

37

44

38

0.30

Motor system

26

24

25.5

26

0.21

State organization

11

14

15.5

9.5

0.58

State regulation

28

28

25

26

<0.01

Autonomic stability

13

13

13

13

0.26

Abnormal reflex

7

7

5

5

0.23

BSID II cluster score at 6 months after birth (n = 94), median

     

MDI

104

104

107

104

0.07

PDI

103

100

101.5

104

0.80

BRS

122

127

124

121

0.39

BSID II cluster score at 24 months after birth (n = 89), median

     

MDI

94

94

94

92

0.49

PDI

100

107

104.5

100

0.75

BRS

106

114

109.5

104

0.43

BSID II cluster score at 36 months after birth (n = 83), median

     

MDI

95

93

97

90

0.19

PDI

116

116

119

116

0.60

BRS

106

104

102

104

0.17

  1. §Log transformed values were tested.
  2. Bold signifies p < 0.05.
  3. NBAS: Brazelton neonatal behavioral assessment scale, BSID: Bayley scale of infant development, MDI: mental development index, PDI: psychomotor development index, BRS: behavioral rating scale.