Table 4 Association between geophagy practices among pregnant women, and arsenic and mercury levels (n = 1056)

Age group of mothers

1.004

(0.996, 1.013)

0.283

1.003

(0.995, 1.012)

0.455

Mother education

    At least primary education

1

1

    No formal education

1.285

(1.125,1.467)

< 0.001***

1.278

(1.118,1.461)

< 0.0001***

Total SEWQ

0.967

(0.945, 0.99)

0.004**

0.968

(0.946,0.991)

0.006**

History of eating soil during pregnancy

    No

1

1

    Yes

1.202

(1.078,1.341)

< 0.001***

1.229

(1.094,1.38)

< 0.0001***

Living in ASGM area

    No

1

1

    Yes

1.313

(1.118, 1.542)

< 0.001***

1.212

(1.039,1.414)

0.014*

Working in mining

    No

1

1

    Yes

1.159

(0.939, 1.431)

0.169

1.09

(0.877,1.355)

0.438

Total Blood Mercury concentration (µg/L)

Age group of mothers

0.993

(0.985,1.001)

0.076^a

0.993

(0.986, 1.012)

0.066^a

Mother education

    At least primary education

1

1

    No formal education

1.161

(1.021,1.321)

0.023*

1.126

(0.999, 1.271)

0.05*

Total SEWQ

0.968

(0.948,0.988)

0.002**

0.978

(0.958, 0.998)

0.032*

History of eating soil during pregnancy

    No

1

1

    Yes

1.233

(1.109, 1.371)

< 0.001***

1.133

(1.022, 1.257)

0.018*

Living in ASGM area

    No

1

1

    Yes

2.412

(2.112, 2.728)

< 0.0001***

2.422

(2.111, 2.776)

< 0.0001***

Working in mining

    No

1

1

    Yes

1.518

(1.107, 2.083)

0.01*

1.307

(1.074, 1.59)

0.007**