An Introduction to Global Health

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/global-health-introduction

Introduction

### Course Review: An Introduction to Global Health on Coursera **Course Name**: An Introduction to Global Health **Platform**: Coursera **Instructor**: Faculty of Global Health **Overview**: "An Introduction to Global Health" is a comprehensive course designed to provide learners with a robust understanding of the pressing health issues affecting our global society today. Through engaging lectures, expert interviews, and interactive discussion forums, this course explores how health challenges have evolved, what drives these changes, and projects future trends. The course also highlights successful international health strategies and governance structures while examining the roles of various stakeholders in enhancing human health worldwide. ### Detailed Syllabus Review: 1. **Defining and Measuring Global Health**: The course opens with an essential introduction to the field of global health. Learners are prompted to explore significant global health challenges through discussions with peers around the world. The first lesson features an insightful interview with Professor Susan Whyte, focusing on the impact of health policy on population health, which sets a strong foundation for the remainder of the course. 2. **Infectious Diseases**: The second module dives into infectious diseases, connecting them to poverty and development. Lessons highlight key global diseases that remain major challenges, making it relevant for anyone interested in global health dynamics. By exploring unfinished agendas relating to infectious diseases, students will appreciate the ongoing efforts required in global health. 3. **Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries**: This module provides a lucid examination of the rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, and their societal implications. Special attention is given to mental health and injuries, which are often neglected in contemporary discourses. This detailed analysis encourages critical thinking about comprehensive health strategies that include all facets of health. 4. **Maternal and Child Health**: Addressing maternal and child health, this module contemplates essential and sometimes contentious themes such as sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). Additionally, it touches on critical aspects of child health, ensuring learners understand the multi-dimensional factors influencing health in early life stages. 5. **Environment, Climate, and Migration**: With a focus on pressing global crises, this module examines how environment, climate change, and migration affect population health. By scrutinizing these mega-trends, learners build a solid understanding of the interconnectedness of health and other societal determinants — a vital perspective in today’s world. 6. **Food and Water**: The importance of nutrition and access to clean water forms the core of this module. It emphasizes the fundamental role of sanitation and hygiene in promoting health, bridging the gap between environmental sustainability and health equity. 7. **Health Systems and Global Health Governance**: The final module closes the loop by exploring health systems and global health governance. By delving into the connections between policy and health outcomes, and connecting these discussions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, learners gain insight into how strategic governance can affect change on a global scale. ### Recommendation: I highly recommend **"An Introduction to Global Health"** for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of health challenges that transcend borders. Whether you are a student, a professional in the health field, or simply someone who is passionate about improving global wellness, this course offers invaluable knowledge and tools to help you grasp the interlinked factors influencing health today. The instructors’ expertise, combined with the globally diverse study community, enriches the learning experience. The interactive components encourage active participation, fostering a deeper understanding of the material. Overall, this course is not just informative but also transformative, equipping participants with critical perspectives necessary for engaging with global health issues. Explore this course on Coursera today, and enhance your understanding of global health in our interconnected world!

Syllabus

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!

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.