Primary Hlth Care in Develop. Countries

Subject 505-957 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Partial Block (Sem 1) or Block (Sem 2)
For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Minimum of 26 hours
Total Time Commitment: In addition to the stated contact hours, students are expected to spend at least 80 hours in non-contact study for this subject.
Prerequisites:

None, although students doing 505-963 Primary Health Care (Jamkhed, India) should not enrol in this subject.
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Contact

Dr Chris Morgan, Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health

School of Population Health, University of Melbourne

Subject Overview: This subject will cover the principles and practice of primary health care (PHC) in resource-poor settings, including: history, principles and key elements of PHC developmental contexts, community health workers and local health systems, PHC approaches to disease control, trends in international development for health, global agencies in health, and current demographic and epidemiological trends affecting PHC. A field visit to PHC sites in Melbourne is included.
Objectives: On completing this subject, students should be able to:
  • Be familiar with the history, principles and elements of primary health care (PHC) in developing countries;
  • Identify causes of poor community health in developing countries;
  • Outline a range of models for making health care accessible to different sectors of the community, the approaches taken to manage health services at all levels, and how PHC is adaptable to different settings;
  • Analyse a PHC management system and evaluate its likely effectiveness in coordinating health services.
Assessment:

Open book short answer examination (30%) and a 3,000-4,000-word essay (70%)
Prescribed Texts: A book of readings will be provided.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Links to further information: http://www.sph.unimelb.edu.au
Notes: This subject is a Group 1 elective in the Master of Public Health.

Related Course(s): Master of Public Health
Master of Social Health (Medical Anthropology)

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