An Introduction to Global Health

About this course: This course will provide you with an overview of the most important health challenges facing the world today. You will gain insight into how challenges have changed over time, we will discuss the likely determinants of such changes and examine future projections. Successful international strategies and programs promoting human health will be highlighted and global health governance structures will be mapped and the role of the key actors explored.

Created by:  University of Copenhagen

• Taught by:  Flemming Konradsen, Professor, Director

  Copenhagen School of Global Health

Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.7 stars Average User Rating 4.7See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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University of Copenhagen The University of Copenhagen is the oldest University in Denmark - founded in 1479, and with over 38,000 students and more than 9,000 employees. The purpose of the University is to conduct research and provide education to the highest academic level. Based in Denmark's capital city it is one of the top research institutions in Europe.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Defining and Measuring Global Health



Welcome to the first module of this global health course. In the first lesson we will introduce you to the overall concepts and definitions of global health and examine the question "What are the biggest global health challenges?". You'll get to hear some answers from fellow learners from around the world, and also have an opportunity to join the conversation here in the course discussion forums. We also have an interview with Professor Susan Whyte about the impact of health policy on a population's health. The second lesson deals with the central tools needed to measure global health burden. Together these two lessons will form the basis on which all the other topical modules are built. Enjoy!


8 videos, 3 readings expand

1. Video: 1.1: Welcome to the Course (F Konradsen)
2. Reading: Course Information
3. Video: 1.2: Voxpop - What is the biggest global health challenge? (Your fellow students)
4. Discussion Prompt: What is your opinion?
5. Video: 1.3: How Changing Policies Impact Population's Health (S Whyte)
6. Reading: Suggested readings and resources
7. Video: 2.1: Epidemiological and Demographic Transition (DW Meyrowitsch)
8. Video: 2.2: Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) (DW Meyrowitsch)
9. Video: 2.3: Global Burden of Diseases (DW Meyrowitsch)
10. Video: 2.4: Disease-specific Risk Factors, part 1 (IC Bygbjerg)
11. Video: 2.5: Disease-specific Risk Factors, part 2 (IC Bygbjerg)
12. Reading: Suggested readings and resources

Graded: Defining and Measuring Global Health

WEEK 2


Infectious Diseases



The second module of this course is focussed on infectious diseases. Lesson 3 will introduce you to the concept of infectious diseases and their relation to poverty and development, and lesson 4 will go through three prominent examples of infectious diseases that are still unfinished agendas in large parts of the world.


5 videos, 2 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Video: 3.1: Infectious Diseases, part 1 (IC Bygbjerg)
2. Video: 3.2: Infectious Diseases, part 2 (IC Bygbjerg)
3. Practice Quiz: Online Activity: Infectious Diseases and Development Goals
4. Reading: Suggested readings and resources
5. Video: 4.1: Infectious Diarrheal Diseases (S Tulsani)
6. Video: 4.2: Malaria - The Transition (L Hviid)
7. Video: 4.3: HIV in Global Health (J Lundgren)
8. Reading: Suggested readings and resources

Graded: Infectious Diseases

WEEK 3


Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries



In the third module we'll have a closer look at non-communicable diseases, in short NCDs, and examine the forces that are behind the global epidemic rise of NCDs such as diabetes. The module also includes a lesson about mental health and injuries - two major global health challenges that are often ignored when dealing with NCDs.


7 videos, 2 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand

1. Video: 5.1: NCDs explained (AR Demaio)
2. Video: 5.2: The Global Burden of Disease - The Rise of NCDs (AR Demaio)
3. Video: 5.3: Determinants and Drivers of NCDs (AR Demaio)
4. Video: 5.4: Diabetes (V Narayan)
5. Video: 5.5: Joint Risk Factors (IC Bygbjerg)
6. Practice Quiz: Online Activity: Air Pollution
7. Reading: Suggested readings and resources
8. Video: 6.1: Mental Health in a Global Perspective (M Muijen)
9. Video: 6.2: Pesticides and Self Harm in Sri Lanka (M Eddleston)
10. Practice Quiz: Online Activity: Road Traffic Injuries
11. Reading: Suggested readings and resources

Graded: Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries

WEEK 4


Maternal and Child Health



This fourth module deals with maternal and child health. The first focus will be on the important, and at times controversial, topic of sexual and reproductive health and rights, often shortened to SRHR. This is followed by a short lesson focussed on child health.


6 videos, 3 readings expand

1. Video: 7.1: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (S Tellier)
2. Video: 7.2: Components of Sexual and Reproductive Health (BL Sørensen)
3. Video: 7.3: The Role of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (E Dupont)
4. Video: 7.4: Abortion Stigma (T Gammeltoft)
5. Reading: Suggested readings and resources
6. Video: 8.1: mHealth in Reproductive and Child Health (S Lund)
7. Video: 8.2: Continuum of Care (C Schmiegelow)
8. Reading: Suggested readings and resources
9. Reading: Join our challenge: Help us reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)!
10. Discussion Prompt: UNFPA blog post on access to contraceptives
11. Discussion Prompt: UNFPA blog post on child marriage
12. Discussion Prompt: UNFPA blog post on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
13. Discussion Prompt: Share your UNFPA advocacy experience

Graded: Maternal and Child Health

WEEK 5


Environment, Climate and Migration



In the fifth module we are looking at some great global crises that profoundly impact the health of populations, namely environment, climate change, and migration. We will examine the health acpect of these mega trends - how are they influencing and challenging policy, health systems, and the health of individuals in both low and high income countries?


6 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Video: 9.1: Environmental Health Challenges (F Konradsen)
2. Video: 9.2: Main Environmental Challenges (R Bos)
3. Video: 9.3: Climate Change and Health (P Furu)
4. Reading: Suggested readings and resources
5. Video: 10.1: Refugees and Internally Displaced (S Tellier)
6. Video: 10.2: Migrants and Health (S Tellier)
7. Video: 10.3: Migration and Health in a Scandinavian Context (M Nørredam)
8. Reading: Suggested readings and resources

Graded: Environment, Climate and Migration

WEEK 6


Food and Water



Access to nutrituous food and clean water are fundamental to health and wellbeing. In the sixth module we are focussing on the role of nutrition and water, with some extra attention to the important role of sanitation and hygiene and their relation to human development.


4 videos, 2 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Video: 11.1: Nutrition and Infectious Diseases (H Friis)
2. Video: 11.2: Diabetes and Maternal and Child Health (KK Nielsen)
3. Practice Quiz: Online Activity: Childhood Malnutrition
4. Reading: Suggested readings and resources
5. Video: 12.1: Sanitation and Development Goals (S Cairncross)
6. Video: 12.2: Diseases Related to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (W van Der Hoek)
7. Reading: Suggested readings and resources

Graded: Food and Water

WEEK 7


Health Systems and Global Health Governance



In this final module of the course we will go full circle, with lessons about the role of health systems and the impact of policy. The last lesson of the course will focus on global health governance and the health aspects of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.


6 videos, 5 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Practice Quiz: Online Activity: Framework for Health Systems
2. Video: 13.1: NCDs and Health Care Systems (G Galea)
3. Video: 13.2: Financing Universal Health Coverage (A Bjerrum)
4. Video: 13.3: Health Care Facilities in Burkina Faso (H Samuelsen)
5. Video: 13.4: Health Systems in Fragile States (TA Dræbel)
6. Reading: Suggested readings and resources
7. Video: 14.1: Global Health Governance (S Tellier)
8. Video: 14.2: Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (K Mauer-Stender)
9. Reading: Suggested readings and resources
10. Reading: Keep in touch
11. Reading: Learning
12. Reading: Lecturers

Graded: Health Systems and Global Health Governance