Nurture Early for Optimal Nutrition (NEON) participatory learning and action women's groups to improve infant feeding and practices in South Asian infants: pilot randomised trial study protocol.

Peer reviewed: TrueAcknowledgements: The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of the NEON Core Team, Steering Team and all health experts who contributed to this study. We would like to thank the Women & Children First Charity and First Steps Nutrition Trust for their valuable contributions and guidance throughout the study. Steering team members had an opportunity to critically review results and contribute to the process of finalising this paper. The authors would like to thank the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Academy and the NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care North Thames for funding the NEON study. This work is also supported by the NIHR GOSH BRC. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.INTRODUCTION: Feeding practices developed in early life can impact a child's nutrition, growth, dental health, cognitive development and lifetime risk of chronic diseases. Substantial evidence suggests ethnic health inequalities, and non-recommended complementary infant feeding practices among UK's South Asian (SA) population. Nurture Early for Optimal Nutrition aims to use women's group participatory learning and action (PLA) cycles to optimise infant feeding, care and dental hygiene practices in SA infants