Development Studies: Global Health

This course is a first cycle course offered as the first course in the second term of the Master of Science Programme in International Development and Management (LUMID) at Lund University.

Global public health is an area of research and practice, which prioritises improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide. This course will provide in-depth knowledge of key concepts related to transnational health challenges such as determinants of health, Millennium Developments Goals, global burden of disease, cultural sensitivity, demographic and epidemiological transitions, health policy, health systems and health economy. A particular emphasis will be given to basic epidemiology, the core instrument to assess and monitor the distribution of health among populations. The key health problems that will be addressed during the course are child health, mal-nutrition (over- and under-nutrition), sexual and reproductive health and rights, communicable (infectious) diseases, non-communicable (chronic or man-made degenerative) diseases, injuries and mental health. The students will also be given the opportunity to critically examine current public health practices/interventions and discuss strategies and solutions relevant to the contexts and settings in which these are implemented. Although the focus of this course is on low- and middle-income countries, the impact of public health interventions from today’s high-income countries will be reflected upon in relation to countries that are facing "the double burden of disease". Working within this area requires a cross-disciplinary approach (health sciences, social sciences, behavioral sciences but also water and sanitation, agriculture, housing, transport and police departments). In order to succeed, it is also crucial to engage the population in planning and making decisions regarding their own health, which is why this course in all parts will promote the participatory approach.