CRH1009

Rural women's health

Associate Professor E Duffy

Distance education · First semester/second semester

Synopsis Participants critically reflect upon and evaluate their own knowledge and practice skills in women's health. The dominant assumption underpinning this subject is that the social, political, economic and environmental context of women is crucial to understanding the key issues in rural women's health. The emphasis is on developing a repertoire of perspectives on women's health; and on exploring and critically analysing key issues in the health care needs and major primary health care problems of women. The macro context for the delivery of women's health services will be explored and critically analysed; therefore, feminist critique and policy issues, policy and planning decisions and their implications for primary health care for women are included in this analysis. Social, cultural and epidemiological perspectives are also used to explore and analyse the special health needs of rural and remote area women. Key issues in ethics and women's health research will be identified and explored. Opportunities to explore and analyse variations in the health care needs and issues of women from menarche to ageing, taking into account their different contexts are provided; at the same time, the opportunity to explore specific issues that may be of particular interest to you and important to your practice, are also included. Among these issues will be Aboriginal women's health and domestic violence. Topics include rural women's health - a background; feminist theorising and critique - a context for women's health; women's health policy; women's health data base - epidemiology and information; ethical thinking and theorising; women's bodies - culture, food hunger and transformation; disease prevention, early detection and screening issues in women's health; life-span approaches to women's health issues (1 adolescent health, 2 adult women, 3 older women); women and violence (aboriginal women and domestic violence); conclusion - women's health in rural and remote areas - reaching out.
Special requirements Access to personal computer facilities and modem is desirable but not essential. Residential attendance is not required.

Assessment Written assignments · Journals · Teleconference participation

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