Courses offered in 2010: Semester (a) starts March 29th

Foundation sciences of Public Health.
Biostatistics: The purpose of this module is: a) To enable you to read most of the relevant literature with understanding of the statistical content. b) To permit you to carry out some analysis of uni-variate and bi-variate data. And c) to prepare you for more complex forms of statistical analysis if you wish. As most of the calculations are done by computer the only pre-requisite knowledge is an understanding of simple arithmetic.

Evidence Based Practice: is cited as the basis of all our public health and healthcare decisions, but what does that mean in practice? How do we know which evidence to use? When there is so much research evidence, why is there still so much controversy over the best course of public health action? The module covers how to formulate an answerable question, access, appraise, and use the evidence on a public health issue.

Introduction to Epidemiology: This module introduces the concepts underlying epidemiology and the main methods employed by the discipline. On completing the module students should have a good grasp of why epidemiology underpins much of the effort of those charged with promoting the health of populations and for providing services to meet health related needs. Also, students should be beginning to approach published material based on epidemiological methods more critically.

Epidemiological concepts and methods are drawn upon in the other modules of the Peoples-uni course. Understanding these is essential to getting the best out of the other course units. Thus, if you are not acquainted with some epidemiology from elsewhere you should consider doing this module (and maybe Biostatistics) early on in your association with the Peoples-uni.

Public Health Concepts for Policy Makers: This course module is designed to provide an introduction to  aspects of Public Health that are important for making policy which impacts on the health of populations. It includes an understanding of what is Public Health and the determinants of health, how to assess the health of the public, methods of intervention, how to use evidence in Public Health policy-making and evaluate the implementation of health policy with a Public Health perspective. Also in French and Spanish versions [new]

Health Economics: This module provides an introduction to health economics for those who want to understand the important contribution that economics can play in the health of populations. The course module includes health and socio-economic development,  health care financing, economic evaluation in health care systems, and priority setting in health.

Inequalities and the Social Determinants of Health (Not offered in Semester a, 2010): The implementation of the recommendations of the WHO in relation to Inequalities and the Social Determinants of Health on a global or regional scale requires key stakeholders to become aware and knowledgeable about the issues. It is therefore opportune to offer a basic course that is dedicated to global / regional health inequities and social determinants of health.

Public Health Problems.

Disaster management and emergency planning: All communities are vulnerable to disaster and following the event would endeavour to limit the damage from it. Assessing and reducing the risks before a disaster occurs is as important as responding to it and dealing with the consequences; both need to be professional to be effective. This module has been developed to introduce you to the concepts and processes of emergency planning for and management of disasters within a developing world context.

Maternal Mortality: Maternal morbidity and mortality remain major problems in many parts of the world – one of the most important threats to Public Health. The purpose of the course module is to provide the people who may be able to help tackle the problem with the knowledge and skills to do so. We will focus on identifying the size of the problem, the causes, and the evidence base behind interventions to improve the situation. We will end by identifying ways to implement evidence based solutions in your own setting.

Preventing Child Mortality: This course module will focus on understanding the burden of childhood disease that results in morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable population, and how to identify and implement evidence based interventions. Children are an invaluable population resource and childhood morbidity and mortality have great importance in terms of a nation’s development, prosperity and well-being. This module has a multi-disciplinary focus that will help students appreciate this complex concept.

Communicable disease: This module covers some key concepts of communicable disease transmission, surveillance and control. Topics include understanding the Public Health aspects of communicable disease including transmission, surveillance of diseases of public health importance in a given setting, application and design of control programmes, the epidemiology of common diseases, immunisation, and responding to an outbreak.

HIV/AIDS: This module covers some of the Public Health aspects of HIV/AIDS and its impact on populations. Topics include the epidemiology of transmission, the size of the problem and how to measure it, the impact of health service functions and organisation on finding solutions, how to identify evidence-based solutions, and how to implement interventions.

Patient safety: "Patient safety is a global issue affecting countries at all levels of development. Understanding the magnitude of the problem and the main contributing factors is essential in order to devise appropriate solutions." (World Health Organisation web site.) This module aims to help build capacity to understand and prevent threats to patient safety globally.

Public Health Nutrition. [NEW] This module covers the concept of 'public health nutrition' - that it is not just the science of human nutrition and the individual problem of under or overnutrition (although the basics of these are core knowledge) but the whole context of food production, food supply and food choices, with a population focus.