MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION

MSc FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION

MODULE: MFSN 737 COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN NUTRITIONAL HEALTH

PREAMBLE

This module is designed to improve student communication skills in the nutrition field. It aims to
enhance student information dissemination skills. It focuses on oral as well as written
communication, listening, critical thinking and problem solving skills. The module also deals with
professionalism in nutritional health. The modules also covers issues to do with information
acquisition from various neglected and vulnerable communities and individuals which will enable
students to solve nutrition related problems. Behavior change and nutrition education are other
aspects that will be covered in the course.

MODULE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the semester, students should be able to:
 Explain the importance of nutrition education as key to improving the health of livelihoods in
communities.
 Explain the counselling process.
 Describe the importance of communication in nutrition education.
 Describe the communication process and how to overcome the various barriers to effective
communication.
 Outline how nutrition education assist in solving the nutritional problems among various
communities.
 Develop a framework for nutritional education for a target group in a community.
 Explain the various theories of behavior change and to apply them in nutrition education.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the module, a successful candidate will be able to:-
 Develop critical thinking skills to assist in problem solving and information dissemination
during nutrition education among communities.
  Develop an understanding of the processes of communication as well as the importance of
communication.
 Assist in the solving of various real life nutrition related problems in Africa and Zimbabwe.

MODULE CONTENT
1. Introduction
 Importance of communication skills in nutritional health.
2. Communication
 Importance of communication
 Classification of communication –verbal, non-verbal, visual, written.
 Components of communication
 Models of communication
 Barriers to effective communication
 Nutrition communication programs
 Culture and communication.
 Designing successful nutrition communication programs.
3. Nutrition education
 Definition
 Why nutrition education matters.
 KAPP- The core of nutrition education.
 Aims and activities of nutrition education
 Global perspectives of nutrition education
 Nutrition education activities.
 Public awareness campaigns
 Nutrition education in specific settings - school, work place, community
 Skills training.
4. FAO Modules on nutrition education
 Common nutritional problems in Africa and how to solve them using nutrition education.
5. Behavior change communication
 Motivation for behavior change - Self-efficacy theory
 Theories of behavior change- Health belief model, Theory of planned behaviour, Trans
theoretical change model
6. Counselling
 Importance of counselling in nutrition education
  Goals of counselling
 Role of the counsellor
 Characteristics of the counsellor
 The counselling process
 Theories of counselling and applicability in nutritional counselling.
 Ethics in counselling.
7. Social marketing as a tool for behavior change in health promotion programs.
8. Professionalism in nutritional health.

ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
This module will be graded as follows:
Continuous assessment: 40% + Final Examination: 60%

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Attendance: It is expected that every student will be in class for lectures and also participate in all
practical exercises. Attendance records will be kept and used to determine each person’s qualification
to sit for the final examination. In case of illness or other unavoidable cause of absence, the student
must communicate as soon as possible, indicating the reason for the absence.
Academic Integrity: Violations of academic integrity, including dishonesty in assignments,
examinations, or other academic performances are prohibited. You are not allowed to make copies of
another person’s work and submit it as your own; that is plagiarism. All cases of academic dishonesty
will be reported to the University Management for appropriate sanctions in accordance with the
guidelines for handling students’ misconduct.
Assignments and Group Work: Students are expected to submit assignments as scheduled.
Failure to submit an assignment as at when due will earn you zero for that assignment. Only under
extenuating circumstances, for which a student has notified the lecturer in advance, will late
submission of assignments be permitted.
Code of Conduct in Lecture Rooms and Laboratories: Students should turn off their cell phones
during lectures. Students are prohibited from engaging in other activities (such as texting, watching
videos, etc.) during lectures. Food and drinks are not permitted in the laboratories.