Participants
The participants were pregnant women and their children from birth to 2 years residing in selected villages. We recruited pregnant women in the first or second trimester of pregnancy, permanently residing in study areas after informed written consent. High-risk pregnancies have the potential to introduce confounding factors into the study, making it challenging to determine the true impact of the intervention. By excluding high-risk cases, we aimed to enhance the quality and reliability of the data, thereby reducing the likelihood of bias that could affect the child outcome assessment. Additionally, this exclusion not only prioritized the safety of high-risk pregnant women by referring them to specialized healthcare facilities but also enhanced the generalizability of our findings, increasing their relevance to a wider range of expectant mothers. We recruited the participants over a period of 6 months, during which we provided counseling to pregnant women and their families, explaining the nature and purpose of the study.