General provisions

The course is part of the Master's Programme in Global Health.

Entry requirements

University degree, minimum of 180 credits, in medicine, nursing, nutrition or another area relevant to global health. All applicants need to verify English language proficiency. This is normally attested by means of an internationally recognised test such as TOEFL or IELTS.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will be able to:

• Identify and analyse global and local burden of disease, determinants of health and origin of disease with special reference to the role of gender, vulnerable groups, and the interrelationship with poverty and in the context of war, disaster and refugee situations.
• Analyse health risks and diseases from an epidemiological perspective.
• Summarise the basic concepts in qualitative study design.
• Finding relevant literature through the university library and its databases. Critically evaluate research reports and compile and analyse a summary of the relevant literature in a research question.
• Identify and analyse the role of the main infectious diseases.
• Distinguish the globally important macro- and micronutrient deficiencies; relate the relationship between poverty, infections and other determinants.
• Explain global patterns of childhood illnesses and initiatives to prevent and treat them.
• Summarise and problematise main elements of reproductive rights, describe globally important sexual and reproductive health problems in a life cycle perspective.
• Appraise different systems for health care delivery and identify international actors.

Content

The course consists of the following seven modules: global public health, basic research methods in global health, health systems and management, infectious diseases and epidemics, global nutrition, child health, sexual and reproductive health.

Global public health

Global burden of diseases

Demographic, epidemiological and nutritional transition

Social determinants of health

Inequity in health and health care utilisation

Chronic diseases and mental health

Climate change and health

Basic research methods in global health

Basic bio-statistical principles

Basic epidemiological concepts, measures and designs

Survey techniques, health and surveillance systems

Basic principles in qualitative research, qualitative interviewing

Library and on-line resources for global health and research

Literature review in a selected area of global health

Health systems and management

Health care systems, health care in different societies and cultures

International and national politics and actors

Public and private service providers

Health promotion and communication

Basic concepts in public health management

Health information systems

Infectious diseases and epidemics

Current trends an occurrence of global infectious diseases

Social and environmental determinants of infections

Basic principles and policies for prevention and control

Prevention and management of respiratory infections and diarrhoeal diseases

HIV, malaria and tuberculosis

Emerging and re-emerging infections, epidemic outbreaks, monitoring, evaluation and control

Global nutrition

Occurrence of main nutritional problems in a global perspective

Causes of malnutrition

Assessment of nutritional status

Policies and programs for prevention and control of main nutritional problems

Child health

Global commitments for child rights and health

Current trends in child health and survivals

Global and national strategies for prevention of mortality in children

Integrated management of common childhood diseases

Management of the severely malnourished child

Interaction infection-nutrition

Prevention and management of perinatal health problems

Sexual and reproductive health

International policies and conventions regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights

Gender inequalities and sexual and reproductive health and rights

Antenatal, perinatal and postnatal care in a global perspective

Family planning, safe abortion, effective STD programs

Traditions such as female genital cutting

Instruction

The course consists of a series of lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, group work and individual assignments presented orally or in written form by the students. Critical readings of scientific articles are done regularly throughout the course. Sessions are interactive and students are encouraged to draw on their own experiences of international health. All teaching is in English.

Assessment

The assessment is based on:

Written examination, participation in compulsory sessions, oral presentations, assignments. If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator. All examinations are in English.