Table 1 Socio-demographic characteristics of the primary caregivers interviewed from the six villages of Kaniyambadi block (n = 302

Age (completed years)

18–30

190

62.9

31–40

79

26.1

41–50

19

6.2

51–60

8

2.6

> 60

6

1.9

Relationship to the child

Mother

281

93

Father

1

0.3

Aunt

3

0.9

Grandmother

16

5.2

Grandfather

2

0.6

Total number of children in the household

1

91

30.1

2

165

54.6

3

40

40

4

6

6

Education

No schooling

13

4.3

Primary

42

13.9

Middle

57

18.9

High school

98

32.5

Post high school

59

19.5

Degree/Diploma

24

7.9

Professional degree

9

3.0

Occupation

House wife

241

79.8

Unskilled worker

33

10.9

Others

28

9.2

Type of family

Nuclear

156

51.7

Joint

107

35.4

Extended

39

12.9

Socioeconomic status (SES)^a

Lower

2

0.7

Upper lower

144

47.7

Lower middle

112

37.1

Upper middle

37

12.3

Upper

7

2.3