Participation in the "nutrition at the Centre" project through women's group improved exclusive breastfeeding practices, as measured by the deuterium oxide dose-to-mother technique.

The EBF rate was significantly higher in the group of mothers who participated in the VSLA-N@C project than in those who did not receive the intervention. The N@C model could be promoted as a strategy for increasing EBF practices in poor and rural contexts, where it is possible to organize mothers into VSLA groups to discuss the process, benefits and challenges of EBF.