Table 1 Comparison of weaning awareness and practices Indicators between intervention and control villages

Awareness Indicators of mothers

N = 200

N = 200

N = 200

Know the meaning of weaning

117(58.5)

182(91.0)

110(55.0)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

Know the exact time to start weaning (at 6–8 months)

120 (60.0)

200(100.0)

112(56.0)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

Know how to start weaning: (Start with small amount of food then increase gradually over 2–3 months

126(63.0)

194(97.0)

130(65.0)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

Intention to start weaning at 6 to 8 months

81 (40.5)

172 (86.0)

86 (43.0)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

Practices Indicators for mothers of infants > 6 months-24 months

N = 150

N = 150

N = 150

Gradual weaning (Started with small amount of food then increase gradually over 2–3 months)

93 (62)

135(90.0)

85(56.7)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

Daily consumption of unhealthy food (24 h):

 •French fries or chips

126 (84)

102 (68)

129 (86)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

 •Biscuits

122(81.3)

51 (34)

126(84.0)

 < 0.01^**

 < 0.01^**

 •desserts (oriental- sugary cookies- cake)

104(69.3)

60 (40)

96(64.0)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

 •Chocolate

93 (62)

38 (25.3)

84 (56.0)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

 •Ice cream

73 (48.70)

39 (26)

70 (46.7)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

 P value of X²

 < 0.001^a** < 0.001^b**

Daily consumption of unhealthy liquid:

 Canned juice

128(85.3)

47(31.3)

131(87.3)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

 Tea

140(93.3)

75(50.0)

135(90.0)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

 Soft drinks

110(73.3)

21(14.0)

105(70.0)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

 P value of X²

 < 0.001^a** < 0.001^b**

Weekly consumption of different food category (Share of Stomach) Ʊψ

 Nutrient rich food (Vegetables, Fruits, Dairyproducts, Meat& Legume)

62%

76%

57%

0.016^*

0.04^*

 Energy dense food (Chips, Sweet, pastries)

16%

2%

18%

 Carbs, Grains

22%

22%

25%

Breastfeeding during illness

 Increasing fluids

71(47.3)

116(77.3)

56(37.3)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

 Increasing breastfeeding

59(39.3)

85(56.7)

53(35.3)

0.003^**

 < 0.001^**

 Feeding your son variety of light meals

38(25.3)

48(32.0)

35(23.3)

0.201

0.093

 Encourage your son to eat more food

24(16.0)

8(5.3)

28(18.7)

0.003^**

 < 0.001^**

 Stop breastfeeding

7(4.7)

0(0.0)

3(2.0)

0.007^**

0.082

 P value of X²

 < 0.001^a** < 0.001^b**

Breastfeeding after illness

 Increasing fluids

26(17.3)

79(52.7)

33(22.0)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

 Increasing breastfeeding

53(35.3)

84(56.0)

48(32.0)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

 Feeding your son variety of light meals

48(32.0)

81(54.0)

45(30.0)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

 Encourage your son to eat more food

45(30.0)

20(13.3)

57(38.0)

 < 0.001^**

 < 0.001^**

P value of X²

 < 0.001^a** < 0.001^b**