Dr Sophia Komninou

Lecturer of Public Health Nutrition

Public Health

sofia.komninou@swansea.ac.uk

Research Links

About

Sophia is an interdisciplinary researcher with a background on Nutrition and Dietetics with specialization in Obesity and Weight Management.

Her PhD work falls into the area of Health Psychology and focuses on the impact of prenatal nutrition and parental feeding practices, both milk feeding and weaning, on infants’ and toddlers’ eating behaviour. More specifically she looked at how milk and complementary feeding practices impact on outcomes, like vegetable acceptance and early eating behaviour, using a variety of methods.

Her research interest include parental feeding practices and early years development .

She is currently a Lecturer on Infant and Child Public Health at Swansea University.

Areas Of Expertise

Infant Feeding
Weaning
Formation of food preferences
Parental feeding practicies

Publications

Research Highlights

Jordan, S., Bromley, R., Damase-Michel, C., Given, J., Komninou, S., Loane, M., Marfell, N., & Dolk, H. (2022). Breastfeeding, pregnancy, medicines, neurodevelopment, and population databases: the information desert. International Breastfeeding Journal, 17(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-022-00494-5, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60890
Komninou, S., Halford, J., Harrold, J., & Komninou, S. (2019). Differences in parental feeding styles and practices and toddler eating behaviour across complementary feeding methods: Managing expectations through consideration of effect size. Appetite, 137, 198-206.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2019.03.001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa49617
Komninou, S., Fallon, V., Halford, J., Harrold, J., & Komninou, S. (2017). Differences in the emotional and practical experiences of exclusively breastfeeding and combination feeding mothers. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 13(3), e12364
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12364, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29927
Fallon, V., Komninou, S., Bennett, K., Halford, J., & Harrold, J. (2017). The emotional and practical experiences of formula-feeding mothers. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 13(4)
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12392, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29928
Komninou, S., Jordan, S., & Leon, S. (2023). Where are the data linking infant outcomes, breastfeeding and medicine exposure? A systematic scoping review. PLOS ONE, 18(4), e0284128
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284128, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63442
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284128

All Research

Journal Articles

Hollinrake, G., Komninou, S., & Brown, A. (2024). Use of baby food products during the complementary feeding period: What factors drive parents' choice of products?. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 20(4)
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13689, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67738
Komninou, S., Jordan, S., & Leon, S. (2023). Where are the data linking infant outcomes, breastfeeding and medicine exposure? A systematic scoping review. PLOS ONE, 18(4), e0284128
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284128, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63442
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284128
Jordan, S., Bromley, R., Damase-Michel, C., Given, J., Komninou, S., Loane, M., Marfell, N., & Dolk, H. (2022). Breastfeeding, pregnancy, medicines, neurodevelopment, and population databases: the information desert. International Breastfeeding Journal, 17(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-022-00494-5, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60890
Komninou, S., Halford, J., Harrold, J., & Komninou, S. (2019). Differences in parental feeding styles and practices and toddler eating behaviour across complementary feeding methods: Managing expectations through consideration of effect size. Appetite, 137, 198-206.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2019.03.001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa49617
Fallon, V., Komninou, S., Bennett, K., Halford, J., & Harrold, J. (2017). The emotional and practical experiences of formula-feeding mothers. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 13(4)
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12392, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29928
Komninou, S., Fallon, V., Halford, J., Harrold, J., & Komninou, S. (2017). Differences in the emotional and practical experiences of exclusively breastfeeding and combination feeding mothers. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 13(3), e12364
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12364, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29927

Other Research Outputs

Jordan, S. & Komninou, S. (n.d.) Breastfeeding: mothers taking prescription medicines faced with a lack of information – new review
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64754

Supervision

Introducing solids and the cost-of-living crisis: the impact of household food security status on infant and young child food security status. (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Amy Brown
Pregnancy and the cost of living crisis: the impact of food insecurity on maternal self-efficacy and wellbeing (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Amy Brown
Risk Factors for Burn Contractures in Lower Income Countries (awarded 2022)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Owen Bodger
The ethical development of undergraduate nursing students: A longitudinal parallel mixed-methods study (awarded 2023)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Hugh Upton

Other supervisor: Dr Gideon Calder

Taught Modules

PM-001 Metabolism and Homeostasis

The module will provide the student with a broad overview of dietary requirements, digestion processes and associated anatomy, nutrient uptake and energetic metabolism processes within the human body. The catabolism of biomolecules for energy production will be covered and the role of the kidney in removal of by-products. The role of neuronal and hormonal systems in homeostatic control of the body will also be elaborated.
PPS108 Introduction to Research in Health and Social Care

This module provides an introduction to the origins of the most common theoretical perspectives used in health and social care research.
PPS206 Evaluating research evidence in Health and Social Care

This module is designed to enable the student to evaluate both qualitative and quantitative research evidence to enable them to identify the quality of quantitative research evidence and to bridge the gap between research and practice. This module builds upon the year one module PPS108 Introduction to Research in Health and Social Care.
SHGM104 Nutrition for Public Health Improvement

The module applies public health and health promotion principles to nutrition. Nutrition is a key element to improving public health. Over-nutrition and under-nutrition are international problems that occur in developed as well as developing nations. The module includes an overview of basic nutrients and requirements through the life-cycle. We will focus on overweight and obesity, nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and cancer. Nutritional policies and approaches to public health nutrition on a local, national and international level will be covered. The module develops the nutrition knowledge and skills required by health and social care professions and other interested individuals. Links to relevant sustainable development are made.
SHGM57 Dissertation (MSc Public Health and Health Promotion)

This module builds on the knowledge and skills developed in part one of the programme. Specifically, students will be prepared to work independently in order to critically explore the evidence base for a topic of interest or relevance to their own professional practice.
SHHD00 Dissertation

The aim of this module is for students to undertake an independent study on an approved topic related to child public health. This could involve empirical research or a literature review. Students will be given individual as well as group advice and support either in the selection of their chosen focus for literature review or with their research design, data collection and data analysis. All students will be given guidance in relation to the presentation and structure of their dissertation.

Dr Sophia Komninou

Email address

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Other Research Outputs

Supervision

Introducing solids and the cost-of-living crisis: the impact of household food security status on infant and young child food security status. (current)

Pregnancy and the cost of living crisis: the impact of food insecurity on maternal self-efficacy and wellbeing (current)

Risk Factors for Burn Contractures in Lower Income Countries (awarded 2022)

The ethical development of undergraduate nursing students: A longitudinal parallel mixed-methods study (awarded 2023)

Taught Modules

PM-001 Metabolism and Homeostasis

PPS108 Introduction to Research in Health and Social Care

PPS206 Evaluating research evidence in Health and Social Care

SHGM104 Nutrition for Public Health Improvement

SHGM57 Dissertation (MSc Public Health and Health Promotion)

SHHD00 Dissertation