Module Information

Module Identifier
ED33820
Module Title
Promoting Health in the Developing World: Challenges and Goals
Academic Year
2017/2018
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Co-Requisite
Co-Requisite
Other Staff

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Assignment  1 x 4,200-word written assignment (challenges to health promotion in a developed country)  70%
Semester Exam 6 Hours   Oral assignment  Oral assignment (case study: overview of actions taken to improve people’s health in a developed country)  30%
Supplementary Assessment Assignment  All failed elements of the assessments must be re-taken if the student's average mark falls below the required pass mark of 40%.  70%
Supplementary Exam 6 Hours   Oral assignment  All failed elements of the assessments must be re-taken if the student's average mark falls below the required pass mark of 40%.  30%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Critically discuss the meaning of health and factors affecting accessibility to good health.

Critically review models of health promotion and challenges facing health promotion in developing countries.

Demonstrate a critical understanding of the Millennium Development Goals and particularly those that relate directly or indirectly to addressing health issues.

Critically discuss the barriers to universal health coverage and the challenges facing developing countries.

Critically review how the health of poor people is improved in developing countries through case studies.

Critically consider the actions taken to reduce hunger and malnutrition in developing countries through case studies.

Brief description

Initially this module will consider health as defined by the World Health Organisation and the importance of health education and promotion, particularly in developing countries. How lack of education in itself could be a barrier to good health. The module will review the Millennium Development goals and the targets affecting the health and wellbeing of people in developing countries. Several case studies will be drawn upon to illustrate the various challenges that people face in different countries that affect their health and will proceed to consider actions taken via the support of international development aid and organisations such as charities and NGOs to improve the health and wellbeing of people. Particular focus will be placed on improving the health of poor people. In the westernized world we have a global obesity pandemic whereas poor people in developing countries face starvation and malnutrition on a regular basis. Consideration will be given to case studies that set out to reduce hunger through humanitarian aid as well as through developmental projects to support and educate people locally to produce their own food.

Aims

Highlight the importance of addressing health and wellbeing in developing countries.
Emphasize the need of meeting the 2015 Millennium Development Goals with respect to health-related targets.
Exemplify the challenges and successes in supporting and improving the health of people in developing countries.

Content

Sessions may be a combination of lectures, seminars or workshops and will include the following topics:
Session 1: What is health? Health as defined by the World Health Organisation. Factors affecting accessibility to good health.
Session 2: Promoting health. Defining health education and the role it plays in health promotion. Models of health promotion.
Session 3: Distinguishing between 'developed' and 'developing' countries. Challenges facing health promotion in developing countries.
Session 4-5 Overview of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals - progress achieved and challenges with particular emphasis on:
Goal 1 - Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; Goal 2 - Achieve universal primary education; Goal 4 - Reduce child mortality; Goal 5 - Improve maternal health; Goal 6 - Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
Session 6: Universal health coverage: resources and barriers. Challenges facing developing countries.
Session 7-8: Improving the health of poor people in developing countries: issues, actions and case studies.
Session 9-10: Reducing hunger and malnutrition in developing countries: issues, actions and case studies
Semester Exam: Oral presentation

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Students will be required to interpret health data and to make comparisons against other sets of data.
Communication Students will be expected to take an active part in seminar discussions. In their assignments, the students will be expected to demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking, to demonstrate a critical understanding of the Millennium Development Goals, and to consider the challenges facing developing countries. Students will also be expected to give an oral presentation.
Improving own Learning and Performance Whilst this is not a formal component of the module, students will be offered ample opportunity to talk about their learning with both the tutor and their peers. Detailed feedback on written and assignment and oral presentation will be provided as a matter of course. Students will also take an active role in the peer assessment of the oral presentations.
Information Technology Students will be required to word-process their assignments and to plan and deliver an oral presentation.
Personal Development and Career planning The module is designed to equip students with an understanding of the core principles and targets of the Millennium Development Goals as governed by the United Nations. It further sets out to provide students with an insight of international development projects and what kind of health support and assistance is required.
Problem solving Students will have to review the actions taken to improve people's health in a developed country.
Research skills Students will be expected to access and retrieve information from a variety of different sources (books, journals, on-line) in preparation for both seminar discussion and written work. Bibliographic skills and critical reading of the research literature play an integral part in this module.
Subject Specific Skills Students will acquire an understanding of the challenges and approaches to health promotion in developed countries.
Team work Group work will be set that will encourage discussion.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6