Prospectus

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Maternal and Child Health

Course
2017-2018

Tags

GPH

Admissions requirements

A 200-level course from the same track.

Description

The aim of the course is to provide insight into maternal and child health from conception onwards around the world. During this course causes of maternal mortality in low and middle income countries as well as high income countries will be discussed along with current interventions to solve these issues. In addition to this, pregnancy and pregnancy complications, cross cutting issues such as abortion or maternal child health services financing mechanisms for maternal child health services are discussed as a prerequisite for child health. Special attention will be given to building cultural competency when it comes to addressing maternal and child health outcomes (e.g. malnutrition, infant feeding practices, asthma and obesity).

Topics that will be covered are:

  • Causes of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity (from a biological, social, and health systems perspective)

  • Key elements of antenatal care, essential obstetric care, and post-natal/newborn care at facility and community levels and the evidence base supporting each of them

  • Life-course health research

  • Mechanisms to influence policy, as well as clinical and social behavior interventions aimed at reducing aimed at reducing maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality (interventions using socio-ecological approach)

  • Identifying the philosophy, cultural values, and social justice concepts associated with maternal child health and public health programs and services, including recognition of foreign aid programs

Course objectives

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Define the main causes and consequences of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.

  • Name the main causes and consequences of different types of malnutrition (incl. undernutrition and overnutrition) in children.

  • Explain socioeconomic differences in pre-, peri-, and postnatal health.

  • Identify how early life exposures shape cardiometabolic risk later in life.

  • Discuss how pregnancy can shape subsequent women’s health in different cultures

  • Develop a targeted intervention to tackle a specific maternal or child health issue.

Timetable

Once available, timetables will be published here.

Mode of instruction

Lecture
Videos
Debates
Case studies through student presentations

Assessment

Individual assignments: Letter to the editor (15%)
Group assignment (30%)
Student presentations (20%)
In-class participation (7%)
written examination (25%)
Peer review (3%)

Blackboard

There will be a Blackboard site available for this course. Students will be enrolled at least one week before the start of classes.

Reading list

Subject to change:

  • Ehiri J (2009). Maternal and child health: global challenges, programs and policies.

  • Skolnik R (2008) Global Health. Chapter 9: Women’s Health.

  • Skolnik R (2008) Global Health. Chapter 10: Child Health.

  • Gibney MJ (2006) Public Health Nutrition. Chapter 16: Infant Feeding.

  • Gibney MJ (2006) Public Health Nutrition. Chapter 17: Adverse outcomes in pregnancy (folic acid).

  • Gibney MJ (2006) Public Health Nutrition. Chapter 18: Fetal programming.

  • Tzioumis E, Adair LS. Childhood dual burden of under- and overnutrition in low- and middle-income countries: a critical review. Food Nutr Bull. 2014 Jun;35(2):230-43.

  • Braveman P and Barclay C. Health disparities beginning in childhood. A Life course perspective. Pediatrics 2009;124:S163–S175

  • Braveman P et al. Measuring Socioeconomic Status/Position in Studies of Racial/Ethnic Disparities: Maternal and Infant Health. Public Health Reports.2001 Sep-Oct;116(5):449-63.

Registration

This course is open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Registration is coordinated by the Curriculum Coordinator. Interested non-LUC students should contact course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.

Contact

M.J. Cho, PhD