Essentials of Global Health
Offered By
Essentials of Global Health
Yale University
About this Course
4.8
154 ratings
Essentials of Global Health is a comprehensive introduction to global health. It is meant to introduce you to this topic in well-structured, clear and easy to understand ways. Much of the course will focus on five questions: What do people get sick, disabled and die from; Why do they suffer from these conditions? Which people are most affected? Why should we care about such concerns? What can be done to address key health issues, hopefully at least cost, as fast as possible, and in sustainable ways? The course will be global in coverage but with a focus on low- and middle-income countries, the health of the poor, and health disparities. Particular attention will be paid throughout the course to health systems issues, the linkages between health and development, and health matters related to global interdependence. The course will cover key concepts and frameworks but be practical in orientation.
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Course Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, learners should be able to:
• Articulate key public health concepts related to global health;
• Analyze the key issues in global health from a number of perspectives;
• Discuss with confidence the burden of disease in various regions of the world; how it varies by sex, age, and location; key risk factors for this burden; and how the disease burden can be addressed in cost-effective ways;
• Assess key health disparities, especially as they relate to the health of low-income and marginalized people in low- and middle-income countries;
• Outline the key actors and organizations in global health and the manner in which they cooperate to address critical global health concerns;
• Review key global health challenges that are likely to arise in the coming decades.
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Value Added of the Course
The course seeks to add special value by being comprehensive, by handling each topic in a consistent framework, and by helping learners gain an understanding of well grounded approaches to assessing global health issues and what can be done to address them.
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The Readings and other materials for Essentials of Global Health
For almost every session of Essentials of Global Health, you will see:
- Required readings
- Recommended readings
- Recommended videos
We have selected a small number of readings for each session that are central to understanding the content of the session. We have put these under “required readings”.
For each required reading, we have also indicated how carefully you should read the material and on what parts of the material you should focus your attention.
In addition, we have selected some additional readings that would be very helpful to your understanding the content of each session.
The first is a textbook, Global Health 101, third edition. This is a comprehensive introductory textbook that closely follows the content of this Essentials of Global Health course. We have indicated for each session what part of the book you should read. Using this textbook can be very valuable to your mastering the content of the course.
The second set of “recommended readings” is some additional readings, mostly from journal articles and reports. For these, too, we have indicated how carefully you should read the material and on what parts of the material you should focus your attention.
Learners should note that to access articles from The Lancet they will have to register with the Lancet, if they do not have online access to a library that has The Lancet. Once they are registered, they will be able to sign into The Lancet and access all of its free articles.
We have also indicated for most sessions one or two videos that relate to the topic of the session. These are meant to help the learner get a better feel for the topic which is being covered. Most learners will find the videos brief, easy and enjoyable to watch, and very enlightening.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
1
Section
Module 1: Introduction
This module introduces you to the course, some of the basic concepts of global health, and a number of key perspectives for considering global health issues. This module will also introduce you to the key actors in global health and the different ways in which they are organized and function.
4 videos (Total 58 min), 11 readings, 2 quizzes
4 videos
Key Perspectives on Global Health and Determinants of Health15m
Social Determinants of Health11m
The Global Health Context and Who Plays18m
11 readings
About this course10m
Meet your instructor10m
Pre-Couse Survey10m
(Required) Koplan et al, "Towards a Common Definition of Global Health"5m
(Required) Fried et al, Global Health is Public Health5m
(Recommended) Skolnik, "The Principles and Goals of Global Health"20m
(Recommended) Jamison, DT, et al. "Global Health 2035: A World Converging within a Generation."20m
(Required) Commission on the Social Determinants of Health (CSDH)30m
(Recommended) Skolnik, "Health Determinants, Measurements, and Trends"5m
(Required) Major players in development cooperation for global health50m
(Recommended) Skolnik, “Working Together to Improve Global Health”m
2 practice exercises
Key Perspectives on Global Health10m
The Global Health Context and Who Plays10m
2
Section
Module 2: The Burden of Disease
Module 2 focuses on the “burden of disease”. It first examines the state of the world’s health. It then introduces you to key demographic factors and how they relate to global health. It concludes with several sessions that examine what people get sick, disabled and die from and to what risk factors and determinants these conditions can be attributed.
8 videos (Total 102 min), 14 readings, 5 quizzes
8 videos
Demography and Health (Part 1)13m
Demography and Health (Part 2)10m
The DALY16m
What Do People get Sick, Disabled, and Die From? (Part 1)7m
What Do People get Sick, Disabled, and Die From? (Part 2)12m
What Do People get Sick, Disabled, and Die From? (Part 3)7m
Key Risk Factors14m
14 readings
(Required) “World Health Statistics 2016: Monitoring Health for the SDGs.”15m
(Required) “Health, Nutrition, and Population Statistics.”15m
(Recommended) Skolnik, “Health Determinants, Measurements, and Trends”m
(Required) Haupt A, Kane TT, and Haub C. Population Reference Bureau’s Population Handbook20m
(Required) Kaneda T and Bietsch K. 2015 World Population Data Sheet.20m
(Recommended) Skolnik, "Health Determinants, Measurements, and Trends"10m
(Required) Chen A, Jacobsen KH, Deshmukh AA, and Cantor SB. "The Evolution of the Disability-adjusted Life Year (DALY)."15m
(Recommended) Skolnik, "Health Determinants, Measurements, and Trends"10m
(Required) The Global Burden of Disease: Generating Evidence, Guiding Policy30m
(Recommended) Skolnik, “Health Determinants, Measurements, and Trends”10m
(Required) The Global Burden of Disease: Generating Evidence, Guiding Policy20m
(Required) Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). GBD Compare.15m
(Required) Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). GBD Heatmap.15m
(Recommended) Skolnik, "Health Determinants, Measurements, and Trends"10m
5 practice exercises
The State of the World’s Health10m
Demography and Global Health10m
The Burden of Disease – The DALY10m
What Do People Get Sick, Disabled, and Die From?20m
Key Risk Factors for Deaths and DALYs10m
3
Section
Module 3: Health Systems and Value for Money in Health
Module 3 focuses on health systems. It first examines the notion of “value for money” in considering investments in health. It then reviews how health systems in different parts of the world are organized; some of the issues they face in effectively and efficiently providing appropriate services of acceptable quality; and what we are learning can be done to address those issues in cost-effective ways.
7 videos (Total 85 min), 8 readings, 3 quizzes
7 videos
The Organization and Aims of Health Systems (Part 1)7m
The Organization and Aims of Health Systems (Part 2)10m
Ethical Priority Setting in Health - Ole Norheim17m
Health Expenditure, the Quest for UHC, and Pharmaceuticals (Part 1)7m
Health Expenditure, the Quest for UHC, and Pharmaceuticals (Part 2)13m
Health Expenditure, the Quest for UHC, and Pharmaceuticals (Part 3)14m
8 readings
(Required) Yazbeck AS. An Idiot’s Guide to Prioritization in the Health Sector.”30m
(Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 3- “Health, Education, Poverty, and the Economy.”10m
(Required) World Health Organization. World Health Report 2000- Health Systems: Improving Performance.20m
(Required) World Health Organization. Health Systems Financing: The Path to Universal Coverage.20m
(Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 5- “An Introduction to Health Systems”20m
(Required) Latko B, et al. "The Growing Movement for Universal Health Coverage."10m
(Required) Kumar, AS, et al. "Financing Health Care for All: Challenges and Opportunities."15m
(Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 5- “Introduction to Health Systems”25m
3 practice exercises
Value for Money in Global Health10m
The Organization and Aims of Health Systems10m
Health Expenditure, the Quest for UHC, and Pharmaceuticals20m
4
Section
Module 4: Cross-Cutting Themes in Global Health - Part I
Module 4 focuses on some of the most important cross-cutting themes in global health. These include the relationship between the environment and health, complex humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters and health, and nutrition and health. They also include an assessment of the health of women, children, and adolescents. A single session is devoted exclusively to childhood immunization.
8 videos (Total 87 min), 8 readings, 3 quizzes
8 videos
Health Disparities (Part 2)11m
The Environment and Health and Climate Change and Health (Part 1)12m
The Environment and Health and Climate Change and Health (Part 2)12m
Nutrition and Global Health (Part 1)10m
Nutrition and Global Health (Part 2)8m
Nutrition and Global Health (Part 3)7m
Nutrition and Global Health (Part 4)13m
8 readings
(Required) Gwatkin DR, et al. Socio-economic Differences in Health, Nutrition, and Population within Developing Countries.25m
(Required) UNICEF. Progress for Children: Achieving the MDGs with Equity.25m
(Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 3- “Health, Education, Poverty, and the Economy”10m
(Required) Pruss-Ustun A, et al. Preventing Disease Through Healthy Environments: A global assessment of the burden of disease from environmental risks.10m
(Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 7- “The Environment and Health”30m
(Required) International Food Policy Research Institute. Global Nutrition Report 2015: Actions and Accountability to Advance Nutrition and Sustainable Development.15m
(Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 8-“Nutrition and Global Health”m
(Recommended) Mother and Child Nutrition15m
3 practice exercises
Health Disparities12m
The Environment and Health and Climate Change and Health10m
Nutrition and Global Health22m
4.8
83%
Top Reviews
By MM•Mar 18th 2017
It was one of the best courses I have done on coursera.Also the instructor explains detailed subject matter very well which makes it easier to understand the subject.Certainly a 10\10 for the course !
By JQ•Feb 19th 2018
GREAT REVIEW OF SOME INTERESTING AND VITAL ASPECTS OF GLOBAL HEALTH. THANKS, SO MUCH TO THE FOLKS WHO WORKED HARD IN PUTTING ON THIS COURSE AND ALLOWING ME TO TAKE IT GRATIS. DR QUINCY
Instructor
Richard Skolnik
Former Lecturer, Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health and Lecturer in the Practice of Management, Yale School of Management, 2012-2016About Yale University
For more than 300 years, Yale University has inspired the minds that inspire the world. Based in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale brings people and ideas together for positive impact around the globe. A research university that focuses on students and encourages learning as an essential way of life, Yale is a place for connection, creativity, and innovation among cultures and across disciplines.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
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When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
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