Results
The total population covered by the project was 105000. The project reach was universal with more than 84–90% mothers having received advice on various feeding practices by one or more of the MSG members.
The baseline characteristics of the study population during the three time periods are described in Table 1. There were no significant differences between the three time periods with regard to demographic and social factors such as age, educational level, occupation or caste. Majority of the women were homemakers in their 20′s and were illiterate. One quarter of the women actively worked in agricultural fields during the day.