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Global Public Health - HEA00016M

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  • Department: Health Sciences
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Amanda Mason-Jones
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
    • See module specification for other years: 2021-22

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23

Module aims

  • To introduce students to a selection of major global challenges for public health practitioners worldwide.
  • To enable students to understand the links between socio-political factors and public health problems in a global context.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of the module, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding and a critical awareness of a range of contemporary global public health issues.
  2. Apply this understanding with originality to advocating action for a chosen global public health problem.

Module content

This module, delivered at a distance, with online materials and live zoom sessions, will provide the student with an introduction to a range of contemporary public health issues that have a major impact on population health globally. It will examine some of the social and political factors that influence global public health. Whilst the focus will be global, examples from a range of countries and health systems will be used. Students will be exposed to a wide range of conceptual, policy issues relevant to public health and asked to reflect on their relevance for their own previous or future practice. Indicative topic content will include:

  • Urban health systems in low- and middle-income countries
  • Non-communicable disease in Uganda
  • Sexual and reproductive health and rights in Mexico
  • Cancer in India
  • The global burden of disability
  • The impact of injury and violence globally
  • Eastern Europe and Russia and the impact of political transition on public health
  • The climate emergency and global public health
  • Leadership in global public health

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Written feedback for the summative assessment is provided on the standard departmental proforma, and will be provided within the timescale specified in the programme handbook.

Indicative reading

Reading materials will be provided throughout the course and will be available on the virtual learning environment. There are many books available depending on student's particular interests. The following books take a critical view of global public health and may be of interest:

Books

  • Biehl, J and Petryna, A (2013) When people come first. Critical studies in global health. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978 0 691 157399
  • Pisani, E. (2008) The wisdom of whores: Bureaucrats, brothels and the business of AIDS. Granta. ISBN 978 1 84708.
  • Keshavjee, S (2014) Blind Spot. How neoliberalism infiltrated Global Health. University of California Press. ISBN 978 0 520-28284

There are a number of journals and websites available also:

Journals

  • The bulletin of the World Health Organization
  • Global Public Health
  • The Lancet global health
  • Globalisation and Health

Websites/electronic resources


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.