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Non Communicable Disease & Global Health (POPH90247)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
Contact information
July
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
OR
Currently enrolled students:
- General information: https://ask.unimelb.edu.au
- Email: Contact Stop 1
Future Students:
- Further Information: MSPGH Website
- Email: Enquiry Form
Overview
| Availability | July - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Globally, non communicable diseases account for over two thirds of all deaths, and over half of disability adjusted life years. While non communicable diseases have sometimes been assumed to impact only on wealthy countries, they are in fact a major health and development challenge. Around 80 percent of non communicable disease-related deaths occur in low and middle income countries. Nations with the highest non communicable disease burden include some of Australia’s closest neighbours, particularly island states in the Pacific, where over 70 percent of mortality is now due to non communicable diseases. The growing non communicable disease burden is of critical importance to global health and development because it impacts on economic growth, increases levels of poverty, and leads to premature death. Non communicable diseases also have major social and fiscal implications for governments and communities.
In this subject, students will gain a practical understanding of the epidemiology, determinants, consequences and global health responses to the non communicable disease epidemic. The subject promotes students’ exploration of the nexus between non communicable diseases and disability, non communicable diseases and infectious diseases, and non communicable diseases within the broader public health and global development agenda. The subject will contribute to enabling a new generation of public health professionals to address non communicable diseases through appropriate policy, programmatic and advocacy responses in Australia and globally.
Intended learning outcomes
- Appraise the major social, political, environmental, cultural and economic factors driving non communicable diseases in Australia and globally;
- Describe the historical evolution of the non communicable disease epidemic;
- Compare the current and forecasted burden of non communicable diseases globally and in different regions and countries;
- Apply global, national and local strategies to address non communicable diseases;
- Describe the relationship between non communicable diseases and equity, particularly with regards to gender, indigeneity and socio-economic status;
- Distinguish between major global and regional non communicable disease stakeholders including governments, NGOs and intergovernmental bodies.
Generic skills
Knowledge
Upon completion of this subject students will be able to:
- Describe and appraise public health systems, structures and policies in Australia and other countries and be able to distinguish a population-based approach from individual based approaches;
- Articulate the ways in which age, gender, ethnicity and Indigenous status, society, culture, geography, the environment and socio-economic status influence public health interventions, planning and outcomes.
Skills
Upon completion of this subject students will be able to:
- Describe how the concept of equity applies to public health practice;
- Identify and access public health evidence, and appraise and synthesise this evidence to inform public health decision making;
- Explain and/or plan strategies to prevent disease (and injury) and to protect and improve health (i.e. health promotion, screening, legislation and policy).
Application of knowledge and skills
Upon completion of this subject students will be able to:
- Apply a comprehensive knowledge of a public health to develop solutions to complex public health problems;
- Design and manage a detailed investigation of a public health issue, with a high level personal autonomy.
Last updated: 3 November 2022