This course introduces the field of Global Health, which is the health of populations at a global scale. Global Population Health provides a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing the health and well-being of populations around the world. Students gain insights into the major global health challenges, such as infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, and mental health. They explore the burden of disease and risk factors associated with these conditions. This course focuses on health disparities and inequities within and between countries. Students learn about the organization and functioning of health systems worldwide. They examine health policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation, as well as the role of governance, financing, and human resources in achieving population health goals. The course covers various interventions and disease control strategies to improve population health on a global scale. Students learn effective strategies for communicating health information, promoting behaviour change, and advocating for population health at local, national, and international levels. This course also introduced implementation science and its roles in global health to the students to understand and address the unique challenges and complexities of implementing interventions in diverse settings with varying resources, cultures, and health systems.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of global disease patterns, the importance of health information systems, and the framework for action.
- Understand the current global disease burden, trend and patterns of the disease burden.
- Identify major communicable and non-communicable diseases affecting the globe will be explored in terms of their epidemiology, impact, determinants, and strategies for control.
- Understand the structure of health systems and their variability across high, middle and low-income countries.
- Critically evaluate global response strategies to complex emergencies, post-conflict and disaster preparedness, and public health issues relating to refugees and displaced persons.
- Understand the fundamentals of implementation science in global health, demonstrate to identify an appropriate implementation science framework that uses real-world scaling up.
Other Information
Career prospects: The field of global population health offers diverse and promising career prospects for individuals interested in addressing public health challenges on a global scale. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the importance of promoting health and well-being across populations and borders has grown significantly. Some of the potential career paths in global population health include, Global Health Researcher; Health Policy Analyst; Global Health Advisor; Global Health Program Manager; and Global Health Consultant.
Indicative Assessment
- Tutorial contribution (Participation in tutorial activities) (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
- Participation in additional online discussion forum and quiz competition in week 3, 6 and 8 (10) [LO 2,3,4]
- Assignment 1: Country profile and situational assessment (35) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Assignment 2: Disease control program (45) [LO 3,4,5,6]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
- Face-to face component which may consist of 1 x 2 hour tutorial per week, plus 1x 1hour wrap-up session at the end of semester.
- Approximately 105 hours of self-directed study which will include watching pre-recorded lectures, and preparation for tutorials and other assessment tasks.
Prescribed Texts
Detels et al (Eds) 2015. Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health (6th ed). Oxford University Press.Preliminary Reading
Jamison et al. 2006. Disease control priorities in developing countries. (2nd ed). Oxford University Press and The World Bank. Accessible online http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11728/tocGlobal Burden of Disease Study 2013 collaborators. 2015. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. The Lancet. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60692-4
Lancet Commission on Investing in Health. 2013. Global Health 2035: a world converging within a generation. The Lancet. 382(9908):1898—01955.
Nathanson et al. 2011. A comparison of five introductory textbooks in global health. Global Public Health. 6(2): 210-19.
- Essentials of global health, by R. Skolnik, Sudbury, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2008.
- Understanding global health, edited by W.H. Markle et al, Columbus, McGraw Hill, 2007.
- Global health, an introductory textbook, by A. Lindstrand et al, Denmark, Studentlitteratur, 2006.
- An introduction to international health, by M. Seear, Toronto, Canadian Scholars Press, 2007.
- Introduction to global health, by K.H. Jacobsen, Sudbury, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2008.
Popkin, BM. 1994. The nutrition transition in low-income countries: an emerging crisis. Nutrition Reviews. 52: 285-98.
Rosling H. 2009. Let my dataset change your mindset (debunking third world myths through data) http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_at_state Gapminder Foundation; Karolinska Institute.
WHO. 2008. Commission on Social Determinants of Health: final report. World Health Organization, Geneva.
Assumed Knowledge
A health care background is recommended but not essential. Basic knowledge of epidemiology and statistics would be an advantage.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4440 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $6360 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8599 | 22 Jul 2024 | 29 Jul 2024 | 31 Aug 2024 | 25 Oct 2024 | In Person | N/A |
| 8600 | 22 Jul 2024 | 29 Jul 2024 | 31 Aug 2024 | 25 Oct 2024 | Online | N/A |
