Study design and population
illness
A parallel-group, single-blinded, cluster-randomized, two-arm trial was designed to investigate the effectiveness of a positive deviant approach (PDA) for improving mothers’ nutritional knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy and children’s nutritional status. The trial followed the CONSORT recommendations for cluster randomized control trials (Campbell et al.). The intervention was conducted in an environment that promoted collective participation. Clusters were used as randomization units to prevent intervention contamination and improve logistical convenience. Clusters are the lowest administrative units, known as zones, in the kebele. Each kebele is divided into many small zones.Mothers who consented and had resided in the study area for at least 6 months before the study were enrolled. Participants who were unable to communicate due to illness were excluded (Trial profile.