SFOK15011U Perinatal and early life epidemiology

Volume 2026/2027
Education

MSc in Public Health Science - elective course

The course will also be open to PhD students.

Content

The course offers a comprehensive overview of key topics in reproductive, perinatal, and early life epidemiology – from fertility and conception through birth outcomes and early childhood health. The course focuses on methodological issues in studying reproductive and perinatal outcomes, integrating life course and global health perspectives.

Students will critically engage with current scientific literature, examine major public health challenges, and participate in discussions on contemporary debates in reproductive and early life health. The course is designed to equip students with the skills to evaluate, design, and communicate epidemiologic research relevant to maternal and child health.

Learning Outcome

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge

  • Demonstrate understanding of the most common and serious deviations from normal reproductive and early life health.
  • Critically read and evaluate scientific literature in reproductive and early life epidemiology.

 

Skills

  • Communicate and present epidemiological findings to professional audiences.
  • Identify and contextualize major public health threats to reproductive and early life health.

 

Competencies

  • Design, implement and assess data collection systems for public health research.
  • Appropriately interpret epidemiologic data within the context of reproductive and early life health.
  • Develop a research proposal addressing a relevant topic in perinatal or early life epidemiology.

Course book and scientific papers

Passed course in Epidemiology SFOA09007U / SFOA09006E or Advanced Epidemiology SFOK23002U/ SFOK23002E in the MSc in Public Health Science or similar courses in epidemiology.
Lectures mixed with problem-based learning in small groups.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 40
  • Preparation
  • 98
  • Exam
  • 137
  • Total
  • 275
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
10 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Type of assessment details
Students are required to develop and submit a written research proposal on a topic within perinatal or early life epidemiology. The proposal must meet the formal requirements for a research project proposal and is due after the conclusion of the teaching period.
Aid
All aids allowed

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the text, including ensuring that the text is not factually incorrect, plagiarized, or contains copyrighted material. AI/LLM’s may not be used as an actual author or a scientific source cf. Vancouver Guidelines.

You must use KU’s template to declare your use of gAI in your assignment.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
One internal examiner
Exam period

See the exam schedule in KUnet

Re-exam

See the exam schedule in KUnet

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the grade 12, the student must:

Knowledge

  • Clearly define and coherently justify a scientific problem within perinatal or early life epidemiology.
  • Describe a detailed and methodologically sound epidemiologic study design to address the problem.
  • Present a feasible study plan, including a realistic timeline.

 

Skills

  • Identify and articulate key public health threats to reproductive and early life health and relate these to the scientific problem addressed in the research proposal.

 

Competencies

  • Propose an appropriate data collection strategy to address the defined scientific problem, demonstrating an understanding of the strengths and limitations of different methods, and the ability to critically assess existing data systems relevant to reproductive and early life health research.
  • Accurately interpret epidemiologic data in the context of perinatal and early life health.