Table 2.

Results

Characteristics of implementers	In all the seven studies, implementers were trained before commencing intervention. In [8], health-care providers and nutrition workers implemented the intervention, in [17] the implementers were graduate-level health assistants and [18] used community health workers. Four studies [10, 19, 20, 21] used community volunteers. Results ranged from highly significant [8, 17, 18] (P<0.001) to just significant [19] (p<0.05).
Training	In 4 studies [17, 18, 19, 20] researchers designed a training tool The results ranged from highly significant [17] p<0.001 to just significant [19] p<0.05., 2 studies [8, 10] used an already existing training tool. Results from [8] were highly significant (95% CI, 0.03, 0.61 and P<0.001) compared to [11] (P= .004, P= 0.022 weight and height respectively) while 1 study [21] did not specify tool used. Training period ranged from half a day to two weeks.
Nutrition education	Education content included introduction of complementary foods at 6 months in [8, 17, 18, 19, 20] and 4 months in [10], giving children energy and protein- rich foods that were locally available. [17, 18, 19] encouraged use of separate cooking pot. All studies included personal hygiene and [19] added environmental hygiene. [8, 17, 18, 19] used cooking demonstrations The results from [8, 17, 18] were highly significant compared to [19] P<0.05.
Mode of intervention delivery	5 studies [8, 10, 19, 20, 21] used home visiting, 1 study [8] added group delivery meetings of care givers and community representatives once a month. 2 studies [17, 18] counselled mothers in groups twice a week for three months and weekly for 6 months respectively. Findings from [17, 18] were highly significant (P<0.001).
Study period	Ranged from 3 months [21] to one year year [8, 10, 19, 20, 21], [18] was for six months. The results in [17] were highly significant (P<0.001).
Setting	All studies were conducted in developing countries and at community level. 6 studies were from Asia and one was from urban Africa
Outcome description	Increase in weight [18, 21], length [8], weight and height [10,20], weight, height and Mid Upper Arm Circumference [19] weight and reduced morbidity [17]