Monash University Handbook 2011 Postgraduate - Course

The Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine offers this course in collaboration with the Centre for International Health of the MacFarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health. Course content is largely based on actual field experiences gained by the MacFarlane Burnet Institute in their wide range of health development projects in more than 20 countries in Asia, the Pacific and Africa.

The course provides the skills necessary to design, implement, and evaluate the relevant programs that address the major public health priorities of communities in developing countries. Public health issues are presented in the broader context of economic and social development, stressing cultural, political, gender and environmental influences, as well as the impact of armed conflict and population migration.

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

• demonstrate a detailed understanding of the principles of primary health care
• analyse the economic, political, cultural, social and gender determinants of public health in developing country communities
• demonstrate a familiarity with the basic elements of health program design, implementation and evaluation
• develop appropriate health program management tools, including situational analysis, population surveys, behavioural studies, health information systems, operations research and participatory evaluation
• understand the special factors associated with the health of women and the children and the dynamics of population growth
• investigate, manage, prevent, and control endemic and epidemic communicable diseases of public health importance in developing countries
• demonstrate a familiarity with the emerging health problems related to urbanisation, industrialisation, behavioural and environmental design
• develop community-based health promotion strategies to address health problems related to communicable, chronic and nutritional diseases and injuries
• demonstrate an adequate understanding of the special circumstances and actions required in an acute disaster setting, including a refugee emergency
• understand the interaction between human rights, ethics, medical practice, health services, the law and health outcomes
• be able to apply an economic analysis to public health problems, health services and prevention programs
• develop adequate skills in report writing, oral presentations, verbal and visual communications and the basic use of computers.

Assessment

Assessment includes written assignments, examinations, practical exercises, student presentations and class participation.

This course comprises four core units and four elective units.

Core units

• MPH1040 Introductory epidemiology
• MPH1041 Introductory biostatistics
• MPH2048 Primary health care in developing countries
• MPH2049 Field methods for international health planning and evaluation

Elective units

Select four of the following or from the list of alternative units below:

• ECX9750 Principles of health economics for developing countries
• EPM5020 Comparative moral theory
• EPM5021 Ethical research with at risk populations
• EPM5022 Critical approaisal skills
• EPM5023 Health research and exploitation of low income countries
• EPM5024 Legal issues in research
• EPM5025 Human research ethics and committees: ethical review of reseaerch and research governance.
• MPH2050 Health of women and children in developing countries
• MPH2051 Communicable diseases control in developing countries
• MPH2053 Public health in refugee settings
• MPH2054 Nutrition in developing countries
• MPH2055 Health and human rights
• MPH2057 Aboriginal health
• MPH2058 Managing community-based HIV programs in developing countries
• MPH2082 Health communication and training
• MPH5087 Alcohol and other drugs in society: A national and global perspective

Alternate elective units (from Melbourne University)

• 505-691 International adolescent health
• 505-692 Disability in developing countries

The course articulates with the Master of International Health 3874 or can lead to the Master of Public Health 0046.

Graduate Diploma in International Health