Table 2 Baseline characteristics (child, maternal and family characteristics) for the SAM children completing the study and the SAM children lost to follow-up displayed is n (%) or mean [95% CI]
|  | N (339) | Completers (n = 211) | Lost to follow-up (n = 128) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Child characteristics | ||||
 Demographic characteristics | ||||
  Female (n, %) | 339 | 105 (49.8) | 51 (39.8) | 0.076 |
  Birth order (born after second child) (n,%) | 337 | 113 (53.8) | 74 (58.3) | 0.258 |
  Age, months | 339 | 26.7 [24.7, 28.7] | 28.5 [25.7, 31.3] | 0.303 |
 Linear growth and nutritional status | ||||
  HAZ baseline score | 337 | −3.7 [−4.0, − 3.5] | −3.8 [−4.2, − 3.5] | 0.641 |
  MUACZ baseline score | 332 | −3.2 [− 3.4, − 3] | − 3.5 [− 3.8, − 3.2] | 0.110 |
  WAZ baseline score | 338 | − 3.7 [− 3.9, − 3.5] | −3.8 [− 4.1, − 3.6] | 0.420 |
  WHZ or BAZ baseline score | 337 | −2.4 [− 2.7, − 2.2] | −2.5 [− 2.8, − 2.1] | 0.893 |
 Developmental status | ||||
  Fine motor baseline score | 338 | 15.6 [14.9, 16.2] | 15.3 [14.4, 16.3] | 0.634 |
  Gross motor baseline score | 339 | 16.3 [15.6, 17] | 16.2 [15.3, 17.1] | 0.906 |
  Language baseline score | 339 | 16.4 [15.5,17.3] | 17.6 [16.3, 19] | 0.135 |
  Personal social baseline score | 339 | 14 [13.1, 14.8] | 14.3 [13.2, 15.4] | 0.644 |
  Social-emotional baseline score | 336 | 64 [59.8, 68.1] | 72.1 [66.7, 77.5] | 0.009* |
Maternal characteristics | ||||
 Age (≤ 30 years) (n, %) | 330 | 166 (79.4) | 98 (81) | 0.732 |
 Education (Illiterate) (n,%) | 338 | 203 (96.6) | 123 (96.1) | 0.782 |
 Occupation (housewife) (n, %) | 331 | 175 (84.5) | 104 (83.9) | 0.871 |
Family characteristics | ||||
 Family size (2–6 persons) (n, %) | 339 | 158 (74.9) | 84 (65.6) | 0.068 |
 Socio-economic status (<  2.4 USD per day a) (n, %) | 338 | 207 (98.6) | 126 (98.4) | 0.921 |
 Address (rural or small village) (n, %) | 339 | 154 (73) | 106 (82.8) | 0.038* |