Recruiting and engaging new mothers in nutrition research studies: lessons from the Australian NOURISH randomised controlled trial

Table 4 Characteristics of allocated mothers ( N =698) who Completed the study ( n =541) or Discontinued ( n =157)

Variable ^a	Completed (n=541)	Discontinued ^b (n=157)	Difference pvalue
	Mean ± SD or %(n)
Maternal age at delivery (years)^c	30.6 ± 5.2	28.0 ± 5.5	<.001
Maternal education (University degree)^d	63 (343)	40 (63)	<.001
Born in Australia/New Zealand^d	81 (438)	82 (129)	.8
Married/Defacto^d (n=696)	92 (516)	92 (143)	.2
Intend to breastfeed exclusively^d (n=694)	94 (509)	92 (143)	.3
Smoked during pregnancy^d (n=696)	12 (62)	15 (23)	.3

(n values) reflect missing data.
^a based on data provided at Stage 1.
^b discontinued due to either active withdrawal or could not be contacted.
^c based on independent samples t test; Mean ± standard deviation (SD) reported.
^d based on likelihood ratio chi-square test; % within group (count) reported.

ISSN: 1479-5868