Public Health Perspectives in Women's Health

Unit Code

01338

Department/Institution Offering Unit

Key Centre for Women's Health in Society
c/o Royal Women's Hospital
Level 1, 305 Cardigan Street
Carlton
Victoria 3053 Australia

tel: +61 3 8344 4333
fax: +61 3 9347 9824
web: www.kcwh.unimelb.edu.au

Unit Points

Research Points: 75

Coursework Points: 25

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Contacts

Unit Coordinator/s:

Dr Louise Keogh
Key Centre for Women's Health in Society
School of Population Health
Level 2, 723 Swanston St
Carlton
Victoria 3053 Australia

tel: +61 3 8344 0692
fax: +61 3 9347 9824
email: l.keogh@unimelb.edu.au

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Overall Objectives

The Key Centre for Women's Health in Society recognises the importance of viewing women's health and wellbeing within the broader social, cultural and economic contexts of their lives. Women's health is not limited to reproductive and sexual health but encompasses health and illness, broadly understood, across the lifespan. Public health aspects of women's health incorporate the determinants of health and wellbeing, illness and disease; the prevention, appropriate diagnosis and management of ill health; and the promotion of physical and mental wellbeing in women.

The Unit "Public Health Perspectives in Women's Health" will give students an understanding of the multiple determinants of women's health and the skills to evaluate health policy, programs and clinical practice in women's health. Students will develop skills to

• analyse critically the priority issues and appropriate clinical or policy responses to women's health concerns
• provide a gender analysis of the differential rates of morbidity and mortality from various conditions of males and females
• demonstrate an understanding of the effects of contextual social, cultural, economical and environmental factors on women's health

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Content

Coursework: Students will be required to undertake 2 coursework subjects over the two semesters. A compulsory research methods subject will be chosen, in consultation with the supervisor, from Qualitative Health Research or Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics. A second subject must be taken, either Introduction to Women's Health (taught at KCWHS), or another subject approved by the supervisor, which is relevant to their research topic (within KCWHS, SPH, or elsewhere at the University of Melbourne). Introduction to Women's Health is taught in semester 1 and provides an overview of contemporary issues in women's health, specifically designed for AMS students. Students wishing to undertake an alternative optional subject may decide to take it in Semester 1 or Semester 2. Qualitative Health Research or Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics are taught in block mode at the beginning of semester 1.

Research: Students will undertake an original, supervised research project, which can use qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods. Research training will be provided during the coursework component. The main research themes in the KCWHS are Reproductive & Sexual Health, Social & Economic Inequalities, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Health & Welfare Services. Students may choose a topic of their own interest for their research project, to be refined in conjunction with a supervisor, or select from a list of set topics available for a particular AMS year. Research may be conducted in Australia or internationally.

The Centre has strong links with clinical practitioners at public and private hospitals including the Royal Women's Hospital, Sunshine, Mercy Hospital for Women and Frances Perry House, Masada Private Hospital and Tweddle Child and Family Health Service. Co-supervision of research with these practitioners is encouraged.

Past student research projects have included collection of new data or the secondary analysis of previously collected data. Other students have chosen to use text and media as data, or to conduct systematic reviews of the literature on a selected health topic. All research is based on a thorough and critical review of the existing literature on the topic.

Sample Research Topics:

1. Social and health implications of violence against women. Women and HIV/AIDS
2. Social inequalities and women's health
3. Social and health implications of violence against women.
4. Women and HIV/AIDS
5. Decision making in obstetric and gynaecological procedures
6. Motherhood following IVF conception
7. Pregnancy health and women's well-being
8. Women's reproductive decision making
9. Cultural diversity and women's health
10. Young women's health
11. Determinants of women's reproductive and mental health
12. Media representations of women's health
13. Psychosocial aspects of genomics
14. Gynaecological conditions and women's wellbeing

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Assessment Breakdown

Research Component: 75 points
Research Report (up to 8,000 words) based on primary research, a component of an existing research project including data analysis or a comprehensive literature review: 85%
Oral Presentation: 15%

Coursework Component: 25 points
Assessment of coursework elements includes written essays, and in some subjects, development of visual materials, oral presentations or group projects.
Coursework subjects, including Qualitative Health Research or Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics are assessed as per subject descriptions.

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Student Numbers

Number of places available:
10