An experiential community-based approach to Service Learning in Nutritional Epidemiology in the education of dietitians

Service Learning is one of the innovative pedagogical methods applied to teach nutritional epidemiology in nutrition and dietetics courses. This study describes how the methodology was used in rural parish communities with community partners' support. This study was carried out during an academic period of professional training. Over 4 months, the students made several field visits, living in the area with the families and learning from their daily work: using tools from epidemiological studies, nutritional problems were identified and prioritised, malnutrition being one of the most relevant. Once the nutritional problems had been identified and prioritised, intervention alternatives were proposed, mainly related to educational and communication strategies. This learning methodology worked on students' critical thinking, adaptation of nutritional interventions to the context of families, comprehensive and intercultural interventions, and families' empowerment in their health.