Review of: "Effectiveness of a Father-Inclusive Parenting Intervention on a Child’s Diet, Early Stimulation, and Father Involvement in Childcare in Rural Malawi: A Study Protocol for a Four-Arm, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial"

This study protocol presents a well-structured and policy-relevant cluster-randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate a father-inclusive parenting intervention in rural Malawi.The manuscript addresses a signi cant gap in early childhood development and nutrition interventions in low-and middle-income countries by explicitly incorporating fathers and couples into behavioral change communication programs.The four-arm design is a notable strength, as it allows comparison of maternal-only, paternalonly, and couple-based interventions, offering valuable insights into the incremental contribution of father engagement.The protocol demonstrates strong methodological transparency through adherence to SPIRIT guidelines, clear eligibility criteria, prede ned outcome measures, and appropriate statistical analysis plans, including intention-to-treat analysis and mixed-effects modeling to account for clustering.The integration of formative research and collaboration with local organizations further enhances cultural appropriateness, feasibility, and potential scalability of the intervention.The protocol also shows careful ethical planning, appropriate sample size calculation, and detailed intervention delivery procedures.The inclusion of multiple primary outcomes addressing nutrition, early stimulation, and paternal involvement re ects a comprehensive approach to nurturing care frameworks and aligns with global child development strategies.Additionally, the use of behavior change communication grounded in social and cultural context strengthens the theoretical and practical relevance of the intervention.