Table 5.

Status of infant and young child feeding evidence in the peer‐reviewed literature from India

Topic	Study design	Approaches	Outcomes
Timely initiation of breastfeeding	Kumar et al., 2008; Ahmad et al., 2012; Agrawal et al., 2012; More et al., 2012; Gami et al., 2014; Khan et al., 2013; Vir et al., 2013	Timely initiation of breastfeeding was promoted through individual and group counselling by trained community health workers (Kumar et al., 2008), trained frontline workers (Agrawal et al., 2012), health staff (Ahmad et al., 2012; Gami et al., 2014), local educated women (More et al., 2012), and trained volunteers (Vir et al., 2013). Information was shared through distribution of educational materials for mothers and families (Khan et al., 2013).	Nearly all studies documented improvements in the initiation of breastfeeding (Khan et al., 2013; Kumar et al., 2008; Ahmad et al., 2012; Agrawal et al., 2012; Gami et al., 2014; Vir et al., 2013). More et al. (2012) did not find improvements in early initiation of breastfeeding.
Exclusive breastfeeding	Bhandari et al., 2005; Ahmad et al., 2012; More et al., 2012; Khan et al., 2013; Roy et al., 2013; Vir et al., 2013	Exclusive breastfeeding was promoted through individual and group counselling by AWWs, ANMs, traditional birth attendants, physicians (Bhandari et al., 2005), health staff (Ahmad et al., 2012), local educated women (More et al., 2012), and trained volunteers (Vir et al., 2013). Information was shared through facilitated women's group meetings (Roy et al., 2013) and distribution of educational materials for mothers and families (Khan et al., 2013).	A majority of studies reported improvements in exclusive breastfeeding (Bhandari et al., 2005; Ahmad et al., 2012; Khan et al., 2013; Roy et al., 2013); and 3) underweight (Vir et al., 2013). Two studies (More et al., 2012; Vir et al. 2013) did not observe improvements in exclusive breastfeeding.
Complementary feeding	Bhandari et al., 2001; Sethi et al., 2003; Bhandari et al., 2004; Bhandari et al., 2005; Kilaru et al., 2005; Palwala et al., 2009; Vir et al., 2013; Vazir et al., 2013	Advice on complementary feeding was given through individual and group counselling by trained workers (Sethi et al., 2003; Kilaru et al., 2005; Palwala et al., 2009), trained village women (Vazir et al., 2013), and physicians (Bhandari et al., 2005). In addition, community awareness‐raising activities such as songs and street plays and group discussions (Sethi et al., 2003) were conducted.	Studies documented improvements in complementary feeding practices including frequency of feeding (Sethi et al., 2003; Kilaru et al., 2005; Palwala et al., 2009), quantity of foods given (Sethi et al., 2003; Palwala et al., 2009; Vazir et al., 2013), and the quality of foods offered to children (Sethi et al., 2003; Bhandari et al., 2004; Bhandari et al., 2005; Kilaru et al., 2005; Palwala et al., 2009; Vazir et al., 2013).
		Only one study (Bhandari et al., 2001) tested the impact of food supplements combined with nutrition education/behavior change communication.

AWW = Anganwadi workers; ANM = auxiliary nurse midwives; EBF = exclusive breast feeding.