Table 1 Selected demographic characteristics of Rural Infant Feeding Study (RIFS) participants
Demographic characteristic (n = 427) (Mean ± SD) | n | % |
|---|---|---|
Mean maternal age (yrs):      30.2 ± 5.2 |  |  |
Mean birth weight (g):       3523 ± 471 |  |  |
Mean gestational age (wks):     39.5 ± 1.4 |  |  |
Health service regiona (n = 427) |  |  |
 Midwest | 291 | 68.1 |
 South West | 100 | 23.4 |
 Wheatbelt | 19 | 4.4 |
 Goldfields | 15 | 3.5 |
 Pilbara | 2 | 0.5 |
Remoteness classification (ARIA) (n = 424) |  |  |
 HA (Highly Accessible) | 19 | 4.4 |
 A (Accessible) | 259 | 60.7 |
 MA (Moderately Accessible) | 95 | 22.2 |
 R (Remote) | 31 | 7.3 |
 VR (Very Remote) | 20 | 4.7 |
Maternal age (yrs) (n = 427) |  |  |
 <20 | 11 | 2.6 |
 20-29 | 184 | 43.1 |
 ≥30 | 232 | 54.3 |
Parity (n = 424) |  |  |
 Primiparous | 178 | 41.7 |
 Multiparous | 246 | 57.6 |
Maternal education (n = 417) |  |  |
 Did not complete high school | 57 | 13.3 |
 Completed Yr 12/technical/trade qualification | 198 | 46.4 |
 Bachelor degree or higher | 162 | 37.9 |
Mother’s country of birth (n = 420) |  |  |
 Australia/New Zealand | 363 | 85.0 |
 UK/Ireland | 26 | 6.1 |
 Other | 31 | 7.3 |
Household income (AUD) (n = 409) |  |  |
 <72,800 | 167 | 39.1 |
 ≥72,800 | 242 | 56.7 |
Birth weight (g) (n = 422) |  |  |
 <2500 | 7 | 1.6 |
 ≥2500 | 415 | 97.2 |
Method of delivery (n = 425) |  |  |
 Vaginal | 244 | 57.1 |
 Assisted (forceps/suction) | 60 | 14.1 |
 Caesarean section | 121 | 28.3 |