Table 2

Summary implementation characteristics of the included studies

StudyDelivery modeBehaviour change techniques used in nutrition and/or stimulation interventionsAverage sessions per month§Duration (months)Personnel¶Compliance¶Effect on child growth**Effect on child development**
InformationPerformance*Problem solvingSocial supportMaterials†Media‡
Mckay et al30Centre-based visit+ +    229Teachers and childcare workers>95% attended C +
Waber et al44HV+           
Grantham-McGregor et al45HV++  + 412Community health aides WLZ –C +, M +, L +
Powell et al31HV ++ + 412Community health aidesMedian of 32.5 visits conductedHeight –
Weight –		C +, M –, L +
Gardner et al32HV +  + 412Community health worker62% children received 3-4 visits per month C +, M +, L +
Hamadani et al33HV and GS++  + 712Play leaders60% of mothers attended>=20 meetingsHAZ –
WAZ –
WHZ –		C +, M –
Nahar et al34HV and GS++  + 36Female health workers–LAZ –
WAZ +
WLZ –		C +, M +
Lozoff et al35HV+++  +412Professional educators-C+, M +, L +
Aboud et al36GS+++  +32Peer educatorsS>85%,
N 80%		LAZ –WAZ +L +
Ogunlade et al37Pre-school+      3Front line assistantn=81.3%HAZ –
WAZ –		C +
Nahar et al19Clinic visit++  + 26Female health workers LAZ –
WAZ +
WLZ –		C +, M –
Vazir et al38HV++  + 312Trained mothers Height –
Weight –		C +, M –
Aboud et al39HV and GS+++  + 10Community facilitators+Family welfare assistantsGS 85%LAZ –C +, L +
Tofail et al46HV +  +  9Play leaders99%HAZ +
WAZ –
WHZ –		C +, M –
Yousafzai et al40HV and GS+++++ 233Female Health workersS>55%
n>75%		 C +, M +, L +
Attanasio et al47HV +  ++418Mother leadersS 83%,
N 73%		Height –
Weight –		C +, M +, L +
Singla et al41HV and GS++++ +37Community volunteersGS 75%HAZ –C +, L +
Rockers et al27HV and GS++    412Community development agents and head mothersGS 89%,
HV 68%		HAZ +
WAZ –		C +, M +
Helmizar et al42GS++  ++46Community health workers-HAZ +
WAZ +
WHZ +		C +, M +, L +
Muhoozi et al43HV and GS+++ + 36Village health team leadersGS 84%LAZ –
WAZ –
WLZ –		C +, M +, L –
Schneider et al48Community centre +  + 13–226PsychologistsS 93.7%,
N 91.7		Height –
Weight –		C +
Hamadani et al28GS at Clinic++  ++212Community health workers and health assistants46%LAZ –
WAZ –
WLZ –		C +, M +, L +
Galasso et al20HV+ +   324Community health workers>80%LAZ –
WAZ –
WLZ –		C –, M –, L –
Grantham- McGregor et al29HV and GS separately++ +++HV: 4
GS: 4		24Female facilitatorsGS 51%
HV 75%
N 84%		LAZ –
WAZ –		C +, M –, L +

  • *Performance includes demonstration and practice of play and communication activities.

  • †Materials included toys and picture books provided to facilitate play activities between mother and child.

  • ‡Media refers to interactive media such as leaflets, illustrative cards, activity booklets with prompts and cues for behaviour change as a part of a BCT.

  • §Number of encounters per month over the trial period.

  • ¶As reported by the author.

  • **Effect of integrated nutrition and stimulation interventions on growth and developmental outcomes: +positive effect, – no significant effect.

  • C, cognitive; GS, group sessions; HV, home visit; L, language; LAZ/HAZ, length-for-age/height-for-age z score; M, motor; N, nutrition; S, stimulation; WAZ, weight-for-age z score; WLZ/WHZ, weight-for-length/weight-for-height z score.