Essentials of Global Health

  • 4.8
Approx. 70 hours to complete

Course Summary

This course provides an introduction to global health and the various factors affecting it. It covers topics such as health disparities, infectious diseases, and healthcare systems around the world.

Key Learning Points

  • Understand the various determinants of health and how they impact global health outcomes.
  • Learn about the major global health issues and challenges facing the world today.
  • Gain knowledge of the healthcare systems and policies in different countries and their impact on health outcomes.

Related Topics for further study


Learning Outcomes

  • Understand the major determinants of health and their impact on global health outcomes.
  • Identify the major global health issues and challenges facing the world today.
  • Develop a basic understanding of the healthcare systems and policies in different countries and their impact on health outcomes.

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

  • A basic understanding of health and healthcare systems
  • Familiarity with global issues and challenges

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

  • Self-paced
  • Online
  • Video lectures

Similar Courses

  • Global Health: An Interdisciplinary Overview
  • Health Across the Gender Spectrum

Related Education Paths


Notable People in This Field

  • Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Co-founder of Partners In Health

Related Books

Description

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.

Outline

  • Module 1: Introduction
  • Course Introduction
  • Key Perspectives on Global Health and Determinants of Health
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • The Global Health Context and Who Plays
  • About this course
  • Meet your instructor
  • Pre-Couse Survey
  • Global Health 101 Slides
  • (Required) Koplan et al, "Towards a Common Definition of Global Health"
  • (Required) Fried et al, Global Health is Public Health
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 1-"The Principles and Goals of Global Health"
  • (Recommended) Jamison, DT, et al. "Global Health 2035: A World Converging within a Generation."
  • Optional participation in a survey
  • (Required) Commission on the Social Determinants of Health (CSDH)
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 2-"Health Determinants, Measurements, and Trends"
  • (Required) Major players in development cooperation for global health
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 17-“Working Together to Improve Global Health”
  • Key Perspectives on Global Health
  • The Global Health Context and Who Plays
  • Module 2: The Burden of Disease
  • The State of the World’s Health
  • Demography and Health (Part 1)
  • Demography and Health (Part 2)
  • The DALY
  • What Do People get Sick, Disabled, and Die From? (Part 1)
  • What Do People get Sick, Disabled, and Die From? (Part 2)
  • What Do People get Sick, Disabled, and Die From? (Part 3)
  • Key Risk Factors
  • (Required) “World Health Statistics 2020: Monitoring Health for the SDGs.”
  • (Required) World Bank. Health, Nutrition, and Population Statistics.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 2-“Health Determinants, Measurements, and Trends”
  • (Required) Haupt A, Kane TT, and Haub C. Population Reference Bureau’s Population Handbook
  • (Required) Kaneda T and Bietsch K. 2018 World Population Data Sheet.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 3-"Health Determinants, Measurements, and Trends"
  • (Required) Chen A, Jacobsen KH, Deshmukh AA, and Cantor SB. "The Evolution of the Disability-adjusted Life Year (DALY)."
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 3-"The Global Burden of Disease."
  • (Required) The LANCET. Global Burden of Disease.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, “Health Determinants, Measurements, and Trends”
  • (Required) Global burden of 87 risk factors
  • (Required) Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). GBD Compare.
  • (Required) Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). GBD Heatmap.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 3-"The Global Burden of Disease"
  • The State of the World’s Health
  • Demography and Global Health
  • The Burden of Disease – The DALY
  • What Do People Get Sick, Disabled, and Die From?
  • Key Risk Factors for Deaths and DALYs
  • Module 3: Health Systems and Value for Money in Health
  • Value for Money in Global Health
  • The Organization and Aims of Health Systems (Part 1)
  • The Organization and Aims of Health Systems (Part 2)
  • Ethical Priority Setting in Health - Ole Norheim
  • Health Expenditure, the Quest for UHC, and Pharmaceuticals (Part 1)
  • Health Expenditure, the Quest for UHC, and Pharmaceuticals (Part 2)
  • Health Expenditure, the Quest for UHC, and Pharmaceuticals (Part 3)
  • (Required) Yazbeck AS. An Idiot’s Guide to Prioritization in the Health Sector.”
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 4- “Health, Education, Poverty, and the Economy.”
  • (Required) World Health Organization. World Health Report 2000- Health Systems: Improving Performance.
  • (Required) World Health Organization. Health Systems Financing: The Path to Universal Coverage.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 6- “An Introduction to Health Systems”
  • (Required) Latko B, et al. "The Growing Movement for Universal Health Coverage."
  • (Required) Kumar, AS, et al. "Financing Health Care for All: Challenges and Opportunities."
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 6- “Introduction to Health Systems”
  • Value for Money in Global Health
  • The Organization and Aims of Health Systems
  • Health Expenditure, the Quest for UHC, and Pharmaceuticals
  • Module 4: Cross-Cutting Themes in Global Health - Part I
  • Health Disparities (Part 1)
  • Health Disparities (Part 2)
  • The Environment and Health and Climate Change and Health (Part 1)
  • The Environment and Health and Climate Change and Health (Part 2)
  • Nutrition and Global Health (Part 1)
  • Nutrition and Global Health (Part 2)
  • Nutrition and Global Health (Part 3)
  • Nutrition and Global Health (Part 4)
  • (Required) Gwatkin DR, et al. Socio-economic Differences in Health, Nutrition, and Population within Developing Countries.
  • (Required) UNICEF. Progress for Children: Achieving the MDGs with Equity.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 4- “Health, Education, Poverty, and the Economy”
  • (Required) Pruss-Ustun A, et al. Preventing Disease Through Healthy Environments: A global assessment of the burden of disease from environmental risks.
  • (Required) World Health Organization. Health and Climate Change Survey Report
  • (Required) World Health Organization. Healthy environments for healthier populations
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 8- “The Environment and Health”
  • (Required) 2020 Global Nutrition Report
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 9-“Nutrition and Global Health”
  • (Recommended) Mother and Child Nutrition
  • Health Disparities
  • The Environment and Health and Climate Change and Health
  • Nutrition and Global Health
  • Module 4: Cross-Cutting Themes in Global Health - Part II
  • Women’s Health Part 1
  • Women's Health Part 2
  • Women’s Health - Sadia Chowdhury
  • Child Health
  • Childhood Immunization
  • Childhood Immunization – Bob Davis
  • (Required) Bustreo, Flavia. “A Short Commentary: Ten Top Issues on Women’s Health.” Promoting health through the life-course.
  • (Required) Smith R, et al. Family Planning Saves Lives.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 10- “Women’s Health”
  • (Required) Liu L, et al. "Global, Regional, and National Causes of Child Mortality in 2000–13, with Projections to Inform Post-2015 Priorities: An Updated Systematic Analysis."
  • (Required) Bhutta ZA, et al. "Can Available Interventions End Preventable Deaths in Mothers, Newborn Babies, and Stillbirths, and at What Cost?"
  • (Required) UNICEF Division of Policy and Strategy. Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed, Progress Report 2013.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 11- “The Health of Young Children”
  • (Required) World Health Organization. Global Vaccine Action Plan 2011-2030.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 11- “The Health of Young Children”
  • Women’s Health
  • Child Health
  • Childhood Immunization
  • Module 4: Cross-Cutting Themes in Global Health - Part III
  • Adolescent Health (Part 1)
  • Adolescent Health (Part 2)
  • Complex Humanitarian Emergencies
  • (Required) Dick B, et al. “Health for the World’s Adolescents: A Second Chance in the Second Decade.”
  • (Recommended) Patton et al. "Our future: A Lancet commission on adolescent health and wellbeing."
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 11- “Adolescent Health”
  • (Required) Toole MJ and Waldman RJ. "The Public Health Aspects of Complex Emergencies and Refugee Situations." 
  • (Recommended) “The Sphere Handbook.” Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 16- “Natural Disasters and Complex Humanitarian Emergencies”
  • Adolescent Health
  • Complex Humanitarian Emergencies
  • Module 5: Critical Causes of Illness and Death - Part I
  • Emerging and Reemerging ID and Anti-microbial Resistance
  • HIV (Part 1)
  • HIV (Part 2)
  • Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Malaria
  • (Required) Moren DM, Folkers GM, and Fauci AS. "The Challenge of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases."
  • (Required) Laxminarayan R, et al. "Antibiotic Resistance—the Need for Global Solutions."
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 13- “Communicable Diseases”
  • (Required) UNAIDS. Global AIDS Update 2020
  • (Required) Piot P, et al. "Defeating AIDS—advancing Global Health."
  • (Recommended) UNAIDS. Global HIV & AIDS statistics. 2020 Fact Sheet.
  • World Health Organization. HIV/AIDS Fact Sheet.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 13- “Communicable Diseases”
  • (Required) Global Tuberculosis Report 2020.
  • (Recommended) World Health Organization. Tuberculosis Fact Sheet.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 13- “Communicable Diseases”
  • (Required) World Health Organization. Malaria Fact Sheet.
  • (Required) WHO. World Malaria Report 2019
  • (Required) RBM Partnership to End Malaria Annual Report 2018
  • (Required) Moonen B, et al. "Operational Strategies to Achieve and Maintain Malaria Elimination."
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 13- “Communicable Diseases”
  • Emerging and Remerging ID and Anti-microbial Resistance
  • HIV
  • Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Malaria
  • Module 5: Critical Causes of Illness and Death - Part II
  • Neglected Tropical Diseases
  • NTDs – Peter Hotez
  • Non-communicable Diseases, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Diabetes
  • Cancer and Diabetes (Part 1)
  • Cancer and Diabetes (Part 2)
  • (Required) Center for Global Development. “Case Studies.”
  • (Required) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Global NTD Programs.
  • (Required) Reaching a Billion Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases: A Gateway to Universal Health Coverage
  • (Recommended) World Health Organization. NTD Fact Sheets.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 13- “Communicable Diseases”
  • (Required) World Health Organization. Noncommunicable Disease Reports..
  • (Required) Hunter DJ and Reddy KS. "Noncommunicable Diseases."
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 14- “Noncommunicable Diseases”
  • (Required) Gelband H, et al. Summary of Disease Control Priorities.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 14- “Noncommunicable Diseases”
  • Neglected Tropical Diseases
  • Overview of Non-Communicable Diseases, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Diabetes
  • Cancer and Diabetes
  • Module 5: Critical Causes of Illness and Death - Part III
  • Tobacco and Alcohol (Part 1)
  • Tobacco and Alcohol (Part 2)
  • Mental Health (Part 1)
  • Mental Health (Part 2)
  • Injuries
  • (Required) Jha et al. “Global Hazards of Tobacco and The Benefits of Smoking Cessation and Tobacco Tax”
  • (Required) Medina et al. “Alcohol Use and Alcohol Use Disorders"
  • (Required) World Health Organization. Tobacco Fact Sheet.
  • (Required) World Health Organization. Heated Tobacco Products.
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 14- “Noncommunicable Disease”
  • (Required) Patel V, et al. "Addressing the Burden of Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders: Key Messages from Disease Control Priorities, 3rd Edition." 
  • (Required) Hyman, S. "The unconscionable gap between what we know and what we do."
  • (Required) World Health Organization. Mental Health Fact Sheets..
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 14-“Noncommunicable Diseases”
  • (Required) Mock et al. "Injury Prevention and Environmental Health."
  • (Required) Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). GBD Compare
  • (Required) Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). GBD Heatmap
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 15- “Unintentional Injuries”
  • Alcohol and Tobacco
  • Mental Health
  • Injuries
  • Module 6: Looking Forward
  • Intersectoral Approaches to Enabling Better Health
  • Science and Technology for Global Health
  • Key Challenges for the Future (Part 1)
  • Key Challenges for the Future (Part 2)
  • Office Hours 1
  • Office Hours 2
  • Office Hours 3
  • (Required) Buluswar S, et al. 50 Breakthroughs: Critical Scientific and Technological Advances Needed for Sustainable Global Development
  • (Recommended) Skolnik, Chapter 18-“Science, Technology, and Global Health”
  • Post-Course Survey
  • Optional participation in survey, follow up from Week 1
  • Science and Technology for Global Health

Summary of User Reviews

The Essentials of Global Health course is highly recommended by users for its comprehensive coverage of global health issues. Many users found the course to be informative and engaging, with a strong emphasis on practical applications.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The practical applications and case studies provided in the course were highly appreciated by users.

Pros from User Reviews

  • Comprehensive coverage of global health issues
  • Informative and engaging course material
  • Strong emphasis on practical applications and case studies
  • Highly knowledgeable and experienced instructors
  • Flexible and accessible online format

Cons from User Reviews

  • Some users found the course to be too broad and lacking in depth
  • The course may be challenging for those without a background in health or science
  • Some users experienced technical difficulties with the online platform
  • The course may require a significant time commitment
  • Limited opportunities for interaction with other students or instructors
English
Available now
Approx. 70 hours to complete
Richard Skolnik
Yale University
Coursera

Instructor

Richard Skolnik

  • 4.8 Raiting
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