MPH2034

Social and cultural perspectives in public health ( 6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Prof S Gifford

Offered:
MMS-ALFRED Second semester 2006 (Day)

Synopsis: Social, political and scientific role of public health in the modern health care system. Topics include the origins of the public health movement; the changing focus of the public health movement in the last two centuries; the role of public health in the Australian health care system in the present time; the stance of public health with respect to social inequalities in health, scientific and technological change; economic forces and issues of professionalisation; the relationship with other health-related disciplines including preventive as opposed to curative health care.

Objectives: On completion of this unit students should be able to: 1. describe the historical and social context of public health in Australia; 2. describe the structure and organisation of Australian society; 3. describe the health care system in Australia.

Homepage: www.med.monash.edu.au/epidemiology/postgrad/

Assessment: Critical appraisal exercises + Essay

Contact Hours: 2 contact hours per week