INTHE4014 – Fundamentals of International Community Health Part II
Course description
Course content
The course focuses on defined areas related to health. The emphasis is on identifying problems, developing strategies and programs in international community health.
The course is divided into three modules with the following areas of focus:
- Medicine in a global society
- Health systems
- Migration and health
Learning outcome
Knowledge
- Medicine in a global society:
You will gain insight into the rationale and function of national and international medicines policies, what influences public and private actors to formulate and operate these policies, and consequences of this on access to and use of essential medicines in the “rich” and “poor” world. You will gain insight into social, cultural, economic and educational factors that influence consumers to choose and use medicines rationally, factors that influence irrational use, and public health research conducted to address these factors to promote rational use.
- Health Systems:
You will learn about the goals and functions of health systems, their organization, their performance, and the global and local environment in which they operate. As part of this, you will learn about the goal of universal health coverage, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the relationships between health systems and the global burden of disease. In addition, you will gain more in-depth knowledge about one specific health system of their choice and about the health system in Sierra Leone before, during, after the 2014-15 Ebola outbreak.
- Migration and health:
You will understand the ways in which migration can function as a social determinant of health, and how structural and historical factors influence health and illness. You will learn about current and historical migratory trends and concomitant health problematics, and gain insight into main challenges of cross-cultural health service development.
Skills
- Medicine in a global society:
You will be able to discuss and analyze important factors which influence national and international medicines policies, and consequences of these on access to and use of essential medicines in the “rich” and “poor” world; and you will be able to critically analyze situations to assess how social, cultural, economic and educational factors influence consumers to choose and use medicines in rational or irrational ways, and consequences of their actions.
- Health Systems:
The course will enable you to characterize common challenges to health systems in low- and middle income countries, to identify and assess specific challenges facing a given health system, and to outline and discuss potential solutions at local, national, and global levels.
- Migration and health:
You will be able to engage critically with risk behavior-oriented analyses and understandings of health and illness.
General competence
- Medicine in a global society:
You will be able to understand key aspects of the role of medicines in the global society, what influences medicines policies nationally and internationally from perspectives of public and private actors, and main consequences of this on people’s rational and irrational choice and use of medicines.
- Health Systems:
The course will make you better able to reflect on the role of health systems in global health, to engage in discussions on how to make progress towards universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals, and to contribute to health systems strengthening in the future.
- Migration and health:
Through group work, the course will enable you to start to investigate migration and health challenges and services in particular settings.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
This course is not available for single course students.
Overlapping courses
11 credits overlap with INTHE4000 – Theoretical Foundation (discontinued)
Teaching
Lectures and group work. You have to participate in at least 80 % of the teaching to be allowed to take the exam. Attendance of lectures will be registered.
Examination
Home examination
Grading
The Board at the University of Oslo has decided to introduce detailed guidelines for all examinations, which take place at the University. The description of the grading should be clear and transparent. This is done to ensure alignment between learning outcomes, assignments, and grading. The Faculty of Medicine has developed a web page with information regarding exams and the grading procedures (norwegian version).
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.