SFOB16001U International Health

Volume 2019/2020
Education

BSc Programme in Public Health - compulsory

Content

The course will provide an introduction to the most central international health-related policies, interventions and the organizational infrastructure of international and global health.

The course will focus on the structures, functions and challenges of national public and private health care systems and related preventive diagnostic and curative interventions.

The course will introduce the students to the most important burdens of disease, including determinants and transitions of disease specific to low and middle income societies.

Learning Outcome

The overall objective of this course is to provide students with the knowledge, skills and competences to understand and analyse health related problems specific to low and middle-income countries.

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge

  • Describe the most central traits of global policy and governance in international health, the most central organizations and their mode and focus of operation

  • Explain the most important goals and challenges in global health policy and development.

  • Reflect upon the structures, functions and challenges of health care systems and services and how this impacts the health seeking behaviour and health status of the poorest in low and middle income societies.

  • Describe the central trends and concepts in the epidemiological transition and their determinants.

  • Describe the most important diseases and health-related challenges in low and middle-income countries.

  • Reflect upon the most vulnerable groups as well as significant risk factors for the most important diseases in low and middle-income countries.

  • Demonstrate knowledge on existing intervention programs and how these address (or fail to address) health challenges in low and middle-income countries.

Skills

  • Interpret data produced by international organisations in order to assess disease burdens and transitions in disease burdens on a national, regional and global level.

  • Analyse and discuss scientific articles and international reports to evaluate programs with the aim of preventing or treating significant health issues in low and middle-income countries.

  • Present an overview of diseases and health challenges in low and middle-income countries and existing preventive programs.

  • Discuss the most important barriers in accessing health care services in low and middle-income countries.

Competences

  • Discuss and collaborate in professional and health oriented project work and bring in public health methods relevant for addressing health challenges  in low and middle-income countries.

  • In a research-based manner, develop portfolios that describe and discuss challenges and solutions concerning illness and health in low- and middle-income countries 

  • Analyse and develop solutions to health related problems specific to low and middle-income countries.

Lectures, group work, facilitated group sessions, portfolio development, and excursion.
This course is offered in English
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 11
  • Exam
  • 10
  • Lectures
  • 60
  • Preparation
  • 194
  • Total
  • 275
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)

The students will be provided with collective written and class-based supervision and feedback in the process of writing the portfolios. The students will also provide peer feedback in groups to each other.

Credit
10 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio, Continuously during the course
Please see details regarding portfolio format below in 'Exam registration requirements'.
Exam registration requirements

The students must produce 2 written portfolios (7 pages of max 2400 characters each, excluding references) and 2 orally presented portfolios designed to fulfil the learning objectives. One written portfolio will be selected for assessment and grading. Education & Student Service will select which portfolio is to be assessed.

Aid
All aids allowed

The students can make use of all aids; literature, lectures and discussions with peers in developing their portfolios. All materials, peer reviewed and non-peer reviewed literature used must be referenced in the portfolio.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Mone internal examiners.
Exam period

Please see the exam schedule at KUnet

Re-exam

Please see the exam schedule at KUnet 

The re-examination may differ from the ordinary exam. Should this be the case, the students registered for the re-examination will be informed as soon as possible.

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the students should, depending on the specific portfolio assignment, be able to:

Knowledge

  • Describe the central concepts in the epidemiological transition and the appertaining determinants.

  • Describe the most important diseases and health challenges in low and middle-income countries.

  • Reflect upon the most vulnerable groups as well as significant risk factors for the most important diseases in low and middle-income countries.

  • Demonstrate knowledge on existing preventive programs and how these addresses health challenges in low and middle-income countries.

  • Reflect upon the challenges and opportunities of health services and how this impacts the health seeking behaviour of the locals.

  • Explain the most important goals and challenges in global health policy and development.

Skills

  • Interpret data produced by international organisations in order to assess transitions in disease burdens on a regional and global level.

  • Analyse scientific articles and international reports to evaluate programs with the aim of preventing or treating significant health issues in low and middle-income countries.

  • Present an overview of diseases and health challenges in low and middle-income countries and existing preventive programs.

  • Discuss the most important barriers in accessing health care services in low and middle-income countries.

Competences

  • Discuss and collaborate in professional and health-oriented project work and integrate public health methods relevant for addressing health challenges in low and middle-income countries.

  • Demonstrate ability to work in a research-based manner in developing portfolios that describe and discuss transitions, challenges and solutions concerning health problems in low- and middle-income countries

  • Analyse and develop solutions to health related problems specific to low and middle-income countries.