Maternal and child nutrition principles MCQs With Answer

Maternal and child nutrition principles are essential for B.Pharm students to understand clinical, pharmacological, and public health aspects of pregnancy, lactation, and early childhood. This concise MCQ set covers macronutrient and micronutrient requirements, iron and folate supplementation, calcium and vitamin D, breastfeeding physiology, complementary feeding, and common nutrient deficiencies like anemia, stunting, and wasting. Emphasis is placed on nutrient–drug interactions, dosing recommendations, screening methods (BMI, MUAC, ferritin), and preventive strategies such as fortification and supplementation. These focused questions will strengthen your knowledge of maternal nutrition, child nutrition, micronutrients, macronutrients, breastfeeding, and public health nutrition relevant to pharmacy practice. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which macronutrient requirement increases most significantly during pregnancy to support fetal growth and maternal tissue expansion?

• Fat
• Carbohydrate
• Protein
• Dietary fiber

Correct Answer: Protein

Q2. Which micronutrient is most important in the periconceptional period to prevent neural tube defects?

• Vitamin D
• Folic acid (folate)
• Iron
• Calcium

Correct Answer: Folic acid (folate)

Q3. What is the WHO-recommended duration of exclusive breastfeeding for optimal infant nutrition?

• 3 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months

Correct Answer: 6 months

Q4. Which component of colostrum provides strong early mucosal immunity for the newborn?

• High lactose
• High immunoglobulin A (IgA)
• High triglycerides
• High iron content

Correct Answer: High immunoglobulin A (IgA)

Q5. Which substance enhances non-heme iron absorption when taken with iron-rich meals or supplements?

• Calcium
• Phytates
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
• Polyphenols from tea

Correct Answer: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

Q6. Which common beverage inhibits iron absorption due to tannins and polyphenols?

• Orange juice
• Tea
• Milk
• Water

Correct Answer: Tea

Q7. Excess intake of which form of vitamin A during pregnancy is teratogenic and should be avoided?

• Beta-carotene
• Preformed vitamin A (retinol)
• Vitamin A from fortified plant foods
• Provitamin A glycosides

Correct Answer: Preformed vitamin A (retinol)

Q8. What is the commonly recommended daily elemental iron dose for routine antenatal supplementation?

• 5–10 mg
• 30–60 mg
• 100–150 mg
• 500 mg

Correct Answer: 30–60 mg

Q9. What is the approximate recommended daily calcium intake for pregnant women to support fetal skeletal development?

• 200 mg/day
• 500 mg/day
• 1000 mg/day
• 2500 mg/day

Correct Answer: 1000 mg/day

Q10. Which long-chain omega-3 fatty acid is critical for fetal brain and retinal development?

• Linoleic acid (LA)
• Arachidonic acid (AA)
• Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
• Oleic acid

Correct Answer: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

Q11. Low birth weight is defined as a newborn weight below which threshold?

• 1500 grams
• 2000 grams
• 2500 grams
• 3000 grams

Correct Answer: 2500 grams

Q12. Stunting in a child primarily indicates which type of malnutrition?

• Acute malnutrition
• Chronic malnutrition
• Micronutrient toxicity
• Dehydration

Correct Answer: Chronic malnutrition

Q13. Wasting in a child is most indicative of which nutritional problem?

• Chronic undernutrition
• Acute undernutrition
• Excess caloric intake
• Micronutrient overdose

Correct Answer: Acute undernutrition

Q14. What is the MUAC cutoff (mid-upper arm circumference) commonly used to identify severe acute malnutrition in children 6–59 months?

• <100 mm
• <115 mm
• <130 mm
• <145 mm

Correct Answer: <115 mm

Q15. A weight-for-height z-score below what value indicates wasting according to WHO growth standards?

• < +2 SD
• < +1 SD
• < −1 SD
• < −2 SD

Correct Answer: < −2 SD

Q16. What is the recommended daily folic acid dose for women of reproductive age to prevent neural tube defects (low-risk pregnancies)?

• 50 mcg
• 200 mcg
• 400 mcg
• 4000 mcg

Correct Answer: 400 mcg

Q17. Maternal iodine deficiency during pregnancy most directly increases the risk of which condition in the child?

• Rickets
• Scurvy
• Cretinism and impaired neurodevelopment
• Hemophilia

Correct Answer: Cretinism and impaired neurodevelopment

Q18. Exclusive breastfeeding for six months reduces infant risk of which major conditions?

• Type 1 diabetes only
• Diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections
• Genetic disorders
• Congenital heart defects

Correct Answer: Diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections

Q19. At what age should complementary (solid) foods typically be introduced while continuing breastfeeding?

• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 12 months

Correct Answer: 6 months

Q20. Which co-administered medication or agent is most likely to decrease oral iron absorption?

• Vitamin C supplements
• Antacids (including calcium-containing antacids)
• Orange juice
• Dietary meat

Correct Answer: Antacids (including calcium-containing antacids)

Q21. A high pre-pregnancy BMI is associated with increased maternal risk of which pregnancy complication?

• Gestational diabetes mellitus
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Neural tube defects in the fetus
• Vitamin C deficiency

Correct Answer: Gestational diabetes mellitus

Q22. Folate’s primary biochemical role in pregnancy is to support which process?

• Bone mineralization
• DNA synthesis and cell division
• Iron transport
• Collagen cross-linking

Correct Answer: DNA synthesis and cell division

Q23. Severe vitamin D deficiency in infants commonly presents as which condition?

• Scurvy
• Rickets
• Beriberi
• Goiter

Correct Answer: Rickets

Q24. Which laboratory test is most specific for diagnosing iron deficiency in a patient with anemia?

• Serum ferritin
• Total cholesterol
• Serum magnesium
• Serum albumin

Correct Answer: Serum ferritin

Q25. Approximately how many additional kilocalories per day are recommended for pregnant women in the second and third trimesters?

• 0 kcal/day (no change)
• 100 kcal/day
• 300 kcal/day
• 1000 kcal/day

Correct Answer: 300 kcal/day

Q26. During exclusive breastfeeding, the average additional maternal energy requirement is roughly:

• 100 kcal/day
• 250 kcal/day
• 500 kcal/day
• 1000 kcal/day

Correct Answer: 500 kcal/day

Q27. Zinc deficiency in young children most commonly leads to which clinical consequence?

• Growth retardation and impaired immune function
• Excessive weight gain
• Hypercalcemia
• Neural tube defects

Correct Answer: Growth retardation and impaired immune function

Q28. Which public health intervention is an example of mandatory food fortification to prevent micronutrient deficiency?

• Adding vitamin B12 to fresh fruit
• Iodizing table salt
• Supplementing bottled water with iron
• Adding folate to raw vegetables

Correct Answer: Iodizing table salt

Q29. When should iron–folic acid supplementation ideally be initiated to maximize benefits for maternal and fetal health?

• Only during labor
• Late third trimester
• At the first antenatal visit or as early in pregnancy as possible
• After delivery only

Correct Answer: At the first antenatal visit or as early in pregnancy as possible

Q30. Which food is contraindicated for infants under 1 year due to the risk of infant botulism?

• Mashed banana
• Pasteurized milk
• Honey
• Iron-fortified cereal

Correct Answer: Honey

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