Education and Leadership › Women’s Academy › Health, Rights and Wellbeing › Mother & Child Health Basics › Course Materials
Based on World Health Organization and UNICEF guidance, this course presents basic information on care during pregnancy, breastfeeding, childhood vaccination, child development and danger signs, in simple and respectful language.
Course page on the learning platform
Course details
| Level | Beginner |
| Estimated duration | 8 hours of study and practice |
| Prerequisite | None |
| Language of instruction | Farsi-e-Dari (with key English terms) |
| Fee | Free |
| Assessment | A quiz after each section and a final exam; pass mark 70%; certificate after approval by the Academy |
After this course you will be able to
- Explain the importance of regular care during pregnancy
- Know the benefits and principles of breastfeeding
- Understand the childhood vaccination schedule and why it matters
- Follow the main stages of child development
- Recognise danger signs in mother and child that need urgent medical attention
Course outline
- Regular check-ups
- Nutrition
- Danger signs
- Safe childbirth
- Caring for the mother
- The mother’s mental health
- Breastfeeding
- Hygiene
- Keeping warm
- Vaccination
- Growth and development
- Complementary feeding
- Diarrhoea and rehydration
- Common illnesses
- When to see a doctor
Week-by-week learning path
With about 30 to 45 minutes of study and practice a day, you will finish this course in 6 weeks:
| Week | Topic | Weekly output |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Pregnancy | Lessons, practical exercise and short section quiz |
| Week 2 | Childbirth and afterwards | Lessons, practical exercise and short section quiz |
| Week 3 | The newborn | Lessons, practical exercise and short section quiz |
| Week 4 | The child | Lessons, practical exercise and short section quiz |
| Week 5 | Prevention | Lessons, practical exercise and short section quiz |
| Week 6 | Final project and final exam | Completed project and a score of 70% or more |
Final project
Prepare a one-page “family guide card”: danger signs in pregnancy and in children, a vaccination table and nutrition tips, citing a reliable source for each point.
Project assessment criteria:
- Scientific accuracy
- Citing sources
- Simplicity and clarity
- Respect for culture and privacy
Key course terms
Antenatal care
Breastfeeding
Immunization
Growth and development
Danger sign
Rehydration
Complementary feeding
Newborn
Assessment and certificate
- After each section: a short quiz (70% recommended before moving on)
- Practical exercises in each lesson are for learning; use Questions to send your questions
- End of course: final exam (pass mark 70%) and submission of the final project
- Digital certificate after review and approval by the Academy: Request a certificate
Teaching method
Each lesson includes learning objectives, explanations with real examples and images, key terms in Dari and English, common mistakes, a practical exercise, a self-test and a summary. In every lesson you can use the Questions button to ask the teacher questions. The courses are impartial, free and open to all young people.
Get ready now
- Check the family’s children’s vaccination cards
- Look at the UNICEF and WHO resources
- Write down your questions for the teacher
Free, reliable resources
These resources were selected by the Academy team. Most are in English; Chrome’s Translate feature can help if needed. Large files (books, exercise files, videos) will be placed in the Academy’s official Google Drive folder when the course goes live, and linked from this page.
- World Health Organization (WHO), reliable, up-to-date health information
- MedlinePlus, the trusted health encyclopaedia of the US National Library of Medicine
- Khan Academy, free lessons in mathematics, science and economics
Important note: This course is for education only and does not replace examination, diagnosis or treatment by a doctor or health worker.
Help and questions
Questions about this course: [email protected] · All courses: Online Learning Centre · Active course: Computer and Internet Basics
Women’s Academy, Afghanistan Youth Parliament · Free and open to all young people