Description of infants, their caregivers and households included in analyses
| Characteristics | M1–M18 | M6–M18 |
| n | 714 | 710 |
| Infants | ||
| Female, n (%) | 346 (48.5) | 345 (48.6) |
| Preterm, n (%) | 141 (19.8) | 138 (19.4) |
| Low birth weight, n (%) | 67 (9.4) | 65 (9.2) |
| Birth weight (kg), n/mean (SD) | 714/3.08 (0.48) | 710/3.08 (0.48) |
| Small for gestational age, n (%) | 67 (12.8) | 66 (12.7) |
| Length-for-age Z score, n/mean (SD) | ||
| Month 1 | 446/−0.98 (1.4) | 443/−0.96 (1.38) |
| Month 3 | 463/−0.89 (1.23) | 462/−0.89 (1.22) |
| Month 6 | 534/−0.95 (1.2) | 534/−0.95 (1.2) |
| Month 12 | 559/−1.27 (1.09) | 559/−1.27 (1.09) |
| Month 18 | 707/−1.60 (1.09) | 707/−1.60 (1.09) |
| Stunting | ||
| Month 1 | 446/88 (19.7) | 443/85 (19.2) |
| Month 3 | 463/72 (15.6) | 462/71 (15.4) |
| Month 6 | 534/97 (18.2) | 534/97 (18.2) |
| Month 12 | 559/143 (25.6) | 559/143 (25.6) |
| Month 18 | 707/252 (35.6) | 707/252 (35.6) |
| Age at interview (days), n/mean (SD) | ||
| Month 1 | 447/44.05 (16.52) | 443/44.11 (16.56) |
| Month 3 | 465/109.69 (22.64) | 464/109.71 (22.66) |
| Month 6 | 540/214.44 (47.96) | 540/214.44 (47.96) |
| Month 12 | 559/388.82 (42.25) | 559/388.82 (42.25) |
| Month 18 | 709/554.61 (46.92) | 707/554.63 (46.97) |
| Breastfed at M6, n (%) | ||
| No | 6 (0.8) | 6 (0.9) |
| Yes | 516 (72.3) | 514 (72.4) |
| Missing | 192 (26.9) | 190 (26.8) |
| Breastfed at M12, n (%) | ||
| No | 27 (3.8) | 27 (3.8) |
| Yes | 539 (75.5) | 537 (75.6) |
| Missing | 148 (20.7) | 146 (20.6) |
| Breastfed at M18, n (%) | ||
| No | 326 (45.7) | 324 (45.6) |
| Yes | 388 (54.3) | 386 (54.4) |
| Mothers | ||
| Age (years), n/mean (SD) | 714/26.4 (6.6) | 710/26.4 (6.6) |
| Height (cm), n/mean (SD) | 714/160.38 (6.49) | 710/160.45 (6.33) |
| Education, n (%) | ||
| Some primary | 123 (17.2) | 120 (16.9) |
| Some secondary | 262 (36.7) | 262 (36.9) |
| Completed secondary | 329 (46.1) | 328 (46.2) |
| Married, n (%) | 675 (94.5) | 671 (94.5) |
| Employed outside home*, n (%) | 45 (6.3) | 45 (6.3) |
| Parity, n (%) | ||
| Parous | 439 (61.5) | 437 (61.6) |
| Nulliparous | 86 (12.0) | 85 (12.0) |
| Missing | 189 (26.5) | 188 (26.5) |
| HIV negative, n (%) | 613 (85.9) | 609 (85.8) |
| Religion, n (%) | ||
| Apostolic | 347 (48.6) | 344 (48.5) |
| Other Christian | 320 (44.8) | 319 (44.9) |
| Other religion | 47 (6.6) | 47 (6.6) |
| Depression score*†, n/median (IQR) | 701/1 (4) | 697/1 (4) |
| Mothering self-efficacy*‡, n/mean (SD) | 699/4.0 (0.42) | 695/4.0 (0.42) |
| Meet diet diversity*, n (%) | 127 (18.0) | 127 (18.1) |
| Interview at baseline (pregnancy period), n (%) | ||
| January–March | 255 (35.7) | 254 (35.8) |
| April–June | 154 (21.6) | 153 (21.6) |
| July–September | 149 (20.9) | 148 (20.9) |
| October–December | 156 (21.9) | 155 (21.8) |
| Households | ||
| No of members, n/median (IQR) | 714/5 (3) | 710/5 (3) |
| SES, n (%) | ||
| Lower | 248 (34.7) | 246 (34.7) |
| Middle | 229 (32.1) | 229 (32.3) |
| Upper | 237 (33.2) | 235 (33.1) |
| Improved latrine, n (%) | 237 (33.2) | 236 (33.2) |
| Residence, n (%) | ||
| Chirumanzu | 335 (46.9) | 332 (46.8) |
| Shurugwi | 379 (53.1) | 378 (53.2) |
| MHFI§, n/median (IQR) | ||
| Poor food access | 714/−0.54 (1.08) | 710/−0.54 (1.08) |
| Household shocks | 714/−0.08 (1.16) | 710/−0.08 (1.16) |
| Low food availability and quality | 714/−0.12 (1.50) | 710/−0.12 (1.50) |
| MHWI§, n/median (IQR) | ||
| Poor water access | 714/−0.49 (1.38) | 710/−0.49 (1.38) |
| Poor water quality | 714/−0.44 (2.10) | 710/−0.44 (2.10) |
| Low water reliability | 714/−0.35 (0.29) | 710/−0.35 (0.29) |
All variables were reported or measured at baseline (during pregnancy) unless otherwise stated.
*Variables with <5% missing.
†Measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (score: 0–30).
‡Mothering self-efficacy measured using questions adapted from the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale and Parenting Self-Agency Measure (score: 0–5).
§Higher scores on dimensions of MHFI and MHWI indicate higher insecurity.
MHFI, multidimensional household food insecurity; MHWI, multidimensional household water insecurity; SES, socioeconomic status.