International Health

Unit Code

01518

Department/Institution Offering Unit

Nossal Institute for Global Health
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
The University of Melbourne
187 Grattan Street , Ground Level
Carlton   VIC 3010

Tel: +61 3 8344 0914 and 8344 9229

Fax: +61 3 8344 9130

Web:  www.aihi.unimelb.edu.au and www.ni.unimelb.edu.au

Unit Points

Research Points: 50-75

Coursework Points: 50-25

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Contacts

Unit Coordinator/s:

Dr Timothy J Moore
Senior Project Officer, Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Unit
Nossal Institute for Global Health
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Nossal Institute for Global Health
The University of Melbourne Room 415
Level 4, Alan Gilbert Building
161 Barry Street
Carlton, Victoria 3010

tel: +61 3 8344 1996
fax: +61 3 9347-6872
email:tim.moore@unimelb.edu.au

Alternative Contact:

Administrator:
Mrs Joni Law
Program Officer, Centre for International Health, Education and Training
Nossal Institute for Global Health
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
The University of Melbourne
187 Grattan Street , Ground Level
Carlton   VIC 3010

tel: +61 3 8344 0914
fax: +61 3 8344 9130
email: jycl@unimelb.edu.au

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Overall Objectives

Background to the Unit: International health is the discipline that applies public health principles in international settings. Historically this has meant equipping health personnel to address the health problems in developing countries. Today the scope has evolved to respond to changing global processes. Current challenges include the following situation at the turn of the twenty first century:

• More than 10 million children under 5 die each year from preventable causes
• Over 500,000 women die each year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth
• 13 million people die from infectious diseases each year, most of which are preventable or treatable; half of these deaths are due to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis or malaria
• More than 150 million women who want to space or limit child bearing do not have access to contraceptives

Increasingly, globalisation means that the health indicators in one population impact on the health of another population. Medical personnel need to have an understanding of global health issues, to appreciate the wider aspects of health and the context of their work.

The Australian International Health Institute (AIHI) at the University of Melbourne is affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. AIHI plays a key role along with other Australian organisations responding to the health needs of resource poor countries in Asia and the Pacific. AIHI works in the areas of education and training, health promotion, development assistance and research.

Objectives: The International Health unit will provide students with an overview of the issues which impact on global health status. Through course work students will develop skills in qualitative/quantitative research and an understanding of the principles of public health in international settings. An attachment to an institution in a resource poor setting will provide the opportunity to apply this knowledge through undertaking a research project applicable to the health needs of the local population.

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Content

Coursework: 25-50 points comprising of:

Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics or Qualitative Health Research (run by the Department of Public Health). Choice will be determined by the research project being undertaken.

International Health Essentials, run by the Australian International Health Institute. This Semester 6 course will cover issues of globalisation and disease burden, principles of primary health care, maternal and child health in developing countries and infectious diseases in developing countries.

Lectures will include subject overview plus case presentations from international settings. Assessment will include participation (10%), short oral presentation (20%) and a written essay of 3000 words (70%).

The above two subjects are compulsory. Further coursework from the following options also exists. The Jamkhed subject in India is highly recommended, especially for those doing their research in the subcontinent.

Jamkhed Primary Health Care Course, a 3 week residential training in rural primary health care run by a world renowned institute in rural India, the Jamkhed Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP). This course will be co-taught by the Jamkhed community and a staff member from AIHI and involves tutorials, field visits and is an immersion program in issues of health delivery in resource poor settings. Students will need to pay for their travel, living expenses and insurance. The cost of the tuition at Jamkhed will be born by AIHI.

Students can also elect to do subjects on offer from the Centre for Health and Society, where these subjects complement their research project.

Research: Where possible the research will be undertaken in a developing country. Past opportunities have included India, Nepal, China and Cambodia. There will be an in-country supervisor and a co supervisor in Melbourne. Students will spend up to three months doing field research. Where possible there will also be a local clinical attachment to complement the research and to provide a better understanding of the constraints of health service delivery in a resource poor setting. Areas of research could include reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, infection control and social barriers to health service delivery. Students will need to pay for their travel,living expenses and insurance.

Sample Research Topics:

Each year the projects will be determined by factors such as the host's research needs and capacity to supervise students and the areas of interests of prospective students. Following are the research topics of our AMS students in past years:

1. Urban understanding of HIV/AIDS and TB in high school students in Nepal
2. Motivation and impact of neighbourhood health promoters in urban Nepal
3. Community attitudes toward malaria prevention
4. Adolescent health needs in rural North India
5. Male adolescent perceived health needs in Oddanchatram, India
6. Using the principles of Primary Health Care in setting up a care and support program for HIV-positive persons in an urban centre within rural Eastern Nepal
7. What are the post partum mental health issues for the Herbetpur community in North India?
8. Blood and beliefs: an investigation into beliefs informing the practice of blood donation
9. Health seeking behaviour after snakebite in rural Nepal
10. Evaluaton of effectiveness of the School Health Educational Program in rural South India
11. An exploratory study mainstreaming disability within the World Vision Area Development Program, with special reference to India
12. Determinants of vesico vaginal fistula in Ethiopia
13. Exploration of health needs of adolescent girls in Oddanchatram, India
14. Sanitation - evaluation of whether a new odourless latrine can be accepted by a community
15. Health seeking behaviour among female migrant workers in Chengdu, China
16. Barriers to antenatal care in a town of rural North India
17. Early childhood care and development (in Sri Lanka)
18. What is the experience of tuberculosis and tuberculosis treatment at a Lakhnadon (India) hospital and what are the perceived barriers to diagnosis and treatment
19. Photovoice with non-governmental organisations in north east India
20. What are the attitudes, beliefs and understanding of tuberculosis in a rural setting in Lakhnadon (India)
21. An evaluation into whether the adolescent girls program is making any difference to age of marriage/staying at school in Jamkhed (India)

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Assessment Breakdown

Research Component: 50-75 points
Research Report (7000 - 8000 words): 80%
Oral presentation (30-45mins): 10%
Supervisor's Evaluation: 10%

Coursework Component: 50-25 points
The International Health subject will involve 40 hours of teaching. Assessment will be made up of course participation (10%), an oral presentation (20%) and a written report of 3000 words (70%).

The Jamkhed option assessment will be made up of 30% participation and 70% student presentation during the Jamkhed course.

Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Qualitative Health Research will be assessed as per subject description.

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Student Numbers

Number of places available:
10