Nutrition and Child Health

There is a growing awareness among nurses and other health professionals that good nutrition is a major determinant of growth development and long term health in the healthy and sick child. This comprehensive text provides practical, evidence-based information on normal and special paediatric nutrition. Each chapter provides a sound scientific foundation, pragmatic balanced guidelines and identifies common difficulties and issues. The book is divided into two sections: Section 1: Normal nutrition in pregnancy, infants and children which covers aspects of maternal and fetal nutrition, infant feeding and childhood from pre-school to adolescence. Section 2: Feeding sick children which addresses a range of topics including eating disorders, feeding children with special needs, special diets and enteral and parenteral nutrition. Chapters are included on growth and nursing nutritional assessment models. Emphasis is placed on nutritional support in the community, reflecting the increasing numbers of chronically sick children who are now managed in the primary care setting. The book's key theme is effective interdisciplinary working and challenges topics such as ethnic and cultural aspects, poverty and children's rights. Learning points, case histories and short questions with answers ensure a user-friendly and accessible approach. This book is a comprehensive source of practical information and guidance to the wide range of health professionals concerned with nutrition and child health, including hospital and community paediatric nurses, health visitors, dieticians and members of the primary health care team.