NCAS Maternal and Child Health 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which US federal program provides nutrition support, breastfeeding education, and health referrals to low-income pregnant women and young children?
- WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) (Correct answer)
- Medicaid
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
- Head Start
Correct answer: WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children)
WIC is a federal program specifically designed to provide nutrition, health, and social support to low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to age 5.
Question 2: A community health nurse is teaching prenatal education. Which nutrient is MOST critical to recommend in the first trimester to prevent neural tube defects?
- Folic acid (Correct answer)
- Vitamin C
- Calcium
- Iron
Correct answer: Folic acid
Folic acid (400–800 mcg daily) taken before and during the first trimester significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
Question 3: In the US, which racial/ethnic group has the highest rate of infant mortality, representing a major maternal-child health disparity?
- Non-Hispanic Black infants (Correct answer)
- Non-Hispanic White infants
- Hispanic infants
- Asian American infants
Correct answer: Non-Hispanic Black infants
Non-Hispanic Black infants die at more than twice the rate of non-Hispanic White infants in the US, reflecting systemic racial health disparities.
Question 4: A community nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child using the Denver Developmental Screening Test II. The test screens for:
- Developmental delays across personal-social, fine motor, language, and gross motor domains (Correct answer)
- Nutritional deficiencies only
- Genetic chromosomal abnormalities
- Immunization compliance
Correct answer: Developmental delays across personal-social, fine motor, language, and gross motor domains
The Denver II screens for developmental delays in four domains: personal-social, fine motor-adaptive, language, and gross motor skills in children from birth to 6 years.
Question 5: What is the recommended age for the first well-child visit after birth, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)?
- 3–5 days after hospital discharge (Correct answer)
- 1 month of age
- 6 weeks of age
- 2 months of age
Correct answer: 3–5 days after hospital discharge
The AAP recommends the first well-child visit at 3–5 days after discharge to assess feeding, weight, jaundice, and maternal-infant bonding.
Question 6: Which of the following is the LEADING cause of injury death among US children aged 1–4 years?
- Drowning (Correct answer)
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Falls
- Burns
Correct answer: Drowning
Drowning is the leading cause of injury death in US children aged 1–4, making water safety education a critical community health priority.
NCAS Maternal and Child Health 1
Which US federal program provides nutrition support, breastfeeding education, and health referrals to low-income pregnant women and young children?