ABSTRACT
Table 3.1 gives a summary of the population characteristics at the beginning of the study. In total, 867 children took part in the study. They were from Cissé (171), Goni (240), Koudougou (191) and Nouna (265). Participants were distributed in 427 households giving an overall mean of 2.0 under five children per household. The highest number of children per household was observed in Kodougou (2.5) and the lowest in Nouna (1.8). The sex distribution was not significantly different across the sites (Chi square test, p=0.421). Overall, females (52.5%) were more than males. The age distribution across the sites was not significantly different (Chi square test, p=0.562) although, children were slightly younger in Nouna, with a mean age of 31.7 months (standard deviation: 15.0) compared to Cissé (mean age 34.7 months). Overall, except the age group below 12 months (9.2%), participants were almost equally distributed in the age groups 12-23 months (23.1%), 24-35 months (23.4%), 36-47 (24.3%) and older than 48 months (20.1%). This pattern was consistent in all sites, except Kodougou, where a slightly higher proportion was observed in the age group 36-47 months (26.2%). The ethnic distribution was significantly different between sites (Chi square test, p>0.0001). Overall the majority were Marka and Mossi representing respectively 31.4% and 30.3% of the study population. Bwaba were the minority (7.5%). In Cissé 84.2% of the participants were Fulani. Marka ethnic group was the majority in Goni (68.8%) and Nouna (33.3%). Children from Kodougou were predominantly Mossi (72.8%). Nouna had the particularity that, differences between the ethnic group proportions were not high as compared to the other sites (Table 3.1).
