Entry requirements

University degree, minimum of 180 credits, in medicine, nursing, nutrition or another area relevant to international health. English proficiency (IELTS min 6, TOEFL min 550 paper based test).

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, perform simple surveys and establishing reporting systems for disease surveillance and control.

Appraise different systems for health care delivery provision of pharmaceutical drugs, and logistic issues in health care delivery, and identify international actors and their roles in health care and humanitarian action.

Identify and analyse the role of the main infectious diseases such as diarrhoeal diseases, pneumonia, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV, emerging infections and epidemic outbreaks, and to organise primary and secondary prevention on different levels in the health care organisation and in collaboration with other sectors in the society.

Describe globally important macro- and micronutrient deficiencies, review the relationship with poverty, infections and other determinants: locate, critically read and utilise literature related to nutrition.

Review global child mortality patterns and global commitments for children, apply principles of management of neonates where resources are scarce, of common childhood infections, explain the interactions between nutrition and infections, and plan integrated preventive and curative services for common childhood illnesses.

Summarise main elements of human and reproductive rights, describe globally important sexual and reproductive health problems in a life cycle perspective, in a low-resource setting perform a situation analysis and organise antenatal and perinatal care, appropriate family planning services, and STD programs.

Provide leadership and manage resources for efficient use in a multidisciplinary health team in health care work or humanitarian action, including project planning, information seeking, human resource management, health promotion, staff training and evaluation of interventions.

Content

The course consists of the following eight 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 and Humanitarian assistance.

Global public health

Global burden of diseases

Demographic, epidemiological and nutritional transition

Social determinants of health, gender and 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

Pharmaceutical drugs, policies, distribution and access

Health promotion and communication

Basic concepts in public health management

Health information systems

Health project management

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

Harmful practices such as female genital cutting

Humanitarian assistance

Health problems in catastrophes and post-conflict situations

Analysis and interpretation of demographic and health data in emergencies

Priority interventions in different disaster situations

Opportunities and challenges facing the emergency health worker

International codes and standards in emergency situations

Instruction

The course consists of a series of lectures, tutorials, seminars, group work and assignments presented orally or in written form by the students. Within each module often a 3-hour lecture introduces the subject area, followed by seminars, assignments for groups or individuals, further lectures covering different applied areas and frequently the modules ending by a workshop or seminar where assignments are presented or discussed. Almost all modules include a critical reading session of a scientific article. Sessions are interactive and students are encouraged to draw on their own experiences of international health.

Assessment

A-3-hour written examination (relative weight 70 %) and a 3000 word essay that is presented and defended in a seminar (relative weight 30 %).

Other directives

This is a core course within the Master programme in International health. Other students, e.g. from the TropEd Europe network, may join the course. Priority will be given to applicants who take this course as part of the Master Programme in International health.