Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of the study population (n = 371)
|  | Total sample (n = 371) | Syrian refugees (n = 189) | Lebanese host communities (n = 182) | P-value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mothers’ characteristics | ||||
Age (years) | ||||
 <  30 | 209 (58.2) | 127 (70.9) | 82 (45.6) | <  0.001 |
 ≥ 30 | 150 (41.8) | 52 (29.1) | 98 (54.4) | |
Educational level | ||||
 Primary school or less | 147 (39.8) | 104 (55.3) | 43 (23.8) | <  0.001 |
 Intermediate school or above | 222 (60.2) | 84 (44.7) | 138 (76.2) | |
Employment status | ||||
 Not employed | 335 (91.0) | 171 (91.9) | 164 (90.1) | 0.540 |
 Employed | 33 (9.0) | 15 (8.1) | 18 (9.9) | |
Smoking status | ||||
 Non-smoker (including past smoker) | 261 (70.4) | 160 (84.7) | 101 (55.5) | <  0.001 |
 Current smoker | 110 (29.6) | 29 (15.3) | 81 (44.5) | |
Nutritional status ** | ||||
 Underweight / normal weight (BMI <  25 kg / m2) | 142 (38.7) | 86 (46.2) | 56 (30.9) | 0.003 |
 Overweight / obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) | 225 (61.3) | 100 (53.8) | 125 (69.1) | |
Child’s characteristics | ||||
Age (months) | ||||
 6–12 months | 151 (40.7) | 79 (41.8) | 72 (39.6) | 0.661 |
 13–24 months | 220 (59.3) | 110 (58.2) | 110 (60.4) | |
Gender | ||||
 Male | 201 (54.2) | 96 (50.8) | 105 (57.7) | 0.182 |
 Female | 170 (45.8) | 93 (49.2) | 77 (42.3) |  |
Birth method | ||||
 Cesarean section | 103 (27.9) | 39 (20.6) | 64 (35.6) | 0.001 |
 Natural birth | 266 (72.1) | 150 (79.4) | 116 (64.4) |  |
Socio-economic characteristics | ||||
Monthly income | ||||
 Less than $200 | 146 (40.6) | 123 (68.7) | 23 (12.7) | <  0.001 |
 More than $200 | 214 (59.4) | 56 (31.3) | 158 (87.3) | |
Crowding index | ||||
 <  2 individuals per room | 110 (29.9) | 10 (5.3) | 100 (55.2) | <  0.001 |
 ≥ 2 individuals per room | 258 (70.1) | 177 (94.7) | 81 (44.8) | |
Spouse’s educational level | ||||
 Primary school or less | 188 (50.8) | 119 (63.3) | 69 (37.9) | <  0.001 |
 Intermediate school or above | 182 (49.2) | 69 (36.7) | 113 (62.1) | |
Spouse’s employment status | ||||
 Not employed | 68 (18.7) | 57 (30.8) | 11 (6.2) | <  0.001 |
 Employed | 295 (81.3) | 128 (69.2) | 167 (93.8) | |