Nutrition and Childhood Health NUTR 2207

Course description:

 This 2-credit course will provide an overview of nutrition issues affecting pregnant and postpartum women, females of reproductive age, infants and children through five years of age.  The course will integrate public health practice and policy recommendations with evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to provide a comprehensive view of maternal and infant nutrition issues from a public health perspective.  To outline key issues concerning the feeding of mothers and young children, and to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition interventions to improve maternal and child nutrition in Palestine. This course will also provide students with an opportunity to develop public health communications and media skills through a project.

Course Aims:

To outline key issues concerning the feeding of mothers and young children, and to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition interventions to improve maternal and child nutrition.

Course outcomes:

By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
  • Identify nutrition issues among females in child bearing age (12-48 years) that can affect the ability to become pregnant and outcomes of pregnancy. 
  • Describe the relationship between the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy and the increased nutritional needs of women during pregnancy.
  • Discuss the benefits and limitations of breastfeeding vs. bottle-feeding for postpartum women and their infants. 
  • Describe the progress of the introduction of solid foods for infants, including developmental clues, types of foods introduced and timing of food introductions. 
  • Discuss the relationships between food intake, psychosocial development and physiological needs among 12-72 month old children. 
  • Develop a concise public health nutrition message and employ social media strategies to increase public awareness in nutrition issues. 
  • Summarize the key causes of low birth weight, low breast milk output, and growth faltering and debate the controversy surrounding specific nutritional interventions to address these problems in Palestine.
  • Compose appropriate nutritional advice regarding the feeding of mothers and children.
  • Design a range of interventions to address current issues in maternal and child nutrition in Palestine.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the physiological basis for nutrient requirements during pregnancy, lactation, infancy and early childhood.
  • Assess the dietary needs appropriate to each stage.