School of Health and Environment Course Outline: Spring 2012

Course Number Course Title Credits Time Faculty Office Hours Office Phone/Email 30.308.201 Global Health 3
11:00 - 12:15 p.m. ; Tuesday/Thursday Ramraj Gautam, Ph.D. Tue 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. & Thurs 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 1:30 p.m. OLeary Library Building, 309 ; UML South 978-934-4398 / Ramraj_Gautam@uml.edu

Course Description The focus of this course is on examining health issues from a global perspective including issues related to maternal and child health, aging, infectious diseases, sanitation and health inequality. Nutritional and environmental health issues in diverse societies are analyzed. Social determinants of health and access to health care in developing and developed countries are emphasized. Course Objectives Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to: A. describe social, economic, political, and environmental factors that affect global health. B. analyze key global health issues and their relevance to specific societies. C. examine the impact of globalization on environmental health and transmission of diseases. D. discuss interventions to address global health issues.

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General Information A. Teaching methods: Lecture, guest lectures, discussion, group activities, audiovisuals. B. Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. Students must notify faculty regarding absence prior to the start of the class in order for an absence to be an excused absence. Students should immediately notify the instructor about conflict between their religious observance and course due dates/examinations. ( http://www.uml.edu/catalog/undergraduate/policies/attendance_policies.htm ). C. Evaluation Methods: Exam #1, & final (15 % each) Individual Written Paper Issues in Global Health (Group Project) Participation/Attendance/Class Group Discussion/ Critical Thinking Quiz/Short Question-Answer in Blackboard or in class D. Grading Scale: A = 94-100 B- = 80-83 D+ = 67-69 A- = 90-93 C+ = 77-79 D = 64-66 B+ = 87-89 B = 84-86 C = 74-76 C- = 70-73 F = below 64

30% 15% 25% 15% 15%

E. Academic Integrity Policy: All students are advised that there is a University policy regarding academic integrity (For details see University of Massachusetts Lowell Undergraduate Catalogue) (Visit http://www.uml.edu/catalog/undergraduate/policies/academic_dishonesty.htm ) It is the students responsibility to familiarize themselves with these policies. If necessary, contact your advisor regarding these policies. F. Cell Phones and Other Devices: All students should turn off or mute cell phones, beepers, and other electronic devices during class. During exams there will be no cell phones or other electronic devices allowed. G. School of Health and Environment Social Media Policy: For detailed information about Social Media Policy, visit http://www.uml.edu/SHE/Student_Requirements.html H. Student Disability Services: For detailed information contact: Office of the Student Disability Services, 240 OLeary Library Building, UMass Lowell South, Ph. 978-934-4574. (http://www.uml.edu/STUDENT-SERVICES/disability/ )

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I. Services for Learning: For detailed information contact: Division of Student Affairs, Cumnock Hall, UML North. Ph 978-934-2100 (http://www.uml.edu/STUDENT-SERVICES/ ) J. Blackboard Vista Access Information: Blackboard will be used to conduct online quizzes (see below for details). Also, useful web-links will be posted in Blackboard. To get your Blackboard Vista username and password: 1). Go to http://continuinged.uml.edu/online and click the Get your username & password here! link on the right-hand side of the screen. 2). Carefully enter the information required to retrieve your username and password. 3). Print out the confirmation screen for your records. NOTE: Before you log into Blackboard, make sure your computer has Java installed. To check, go to Start > Control Panel > Uninstall a Program under Programs and Features or Add/Remove Programs. If you see no Java listed go to www.java.com to download it. To access the online supplement for your course: 1. Go to http://continuinged.uml.edu/online and click on the following link: Online Course Login 2). Enter your Blackboard username and password and click the Login button. Follow on-screen instructions carefully to enter the information required to retrieve your username and password. Important steps to complete when you first login 1. When you first log into Blackboard Vista, pay particular attention to the warning messages that may come up. If you see a warning message about pop-up windows being disabled, you must turn off all pop-up blockers on your computer in order to use Blackboard Vista or allow pop-ups from the course website. 2. If you get a Digital Signature/Java Security Certificate Warning message, make sure to click the Run button. If you are having problems with Blackboard Vista, please contact Continuing Education Online Learning technical support: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm EST Local Phone Number: 978-934-2467 Toll Free Number: 1-800-480-3190 Course Requirements A. Examination #1 & Final: Examinations will focus on class content and readings. The format will be multiple choice questions [30% of grade (Exam 1 & Final: 15% each)]. B. Individual Written Paper: Individual written paper will demonstrate the students critical thinking on current health status and causes of health disparities among racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. Students will identify the health indicators and affected populations, evaluate socio-economic consequences, and compare U.S. health indicators to another developed country. See guidelines for individual written paper (15% of grade). C. Issues in Global Health (Group project) and Power-Point presentation:

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This project will demonstrate you and your work groups ability to identify and analyze major health issues in one developing country. Health systems in the selected country will be examined. As a group students will review the roles of international community that are supporting/addressing the health issues in the selected country. Students will present group project to the class in a Power-Point presentation. See Guidelines for Issues in Global Health Paper and Power-Point presentations (25% of grade). D. Participation/Attendance/ Class Discussion/Critical Thinking: Attendance is required. Attendance will be taken randomly in the class. See attendance policy (15% of grade: 5% for Attendance & 10% for Class Discussion/Critical Thinking/Response papers assignments after guest lectures Book: Half the sky). E. Quiz or Short Question-Answer in Blackboard/ or in Class: (BBQ) Prior to the start of a new chapter you will be asked: 1) to take a quiz (5-10 multiple choice/true-false) or answer a short question(s) posted in Blackboard before coming to the class (Blackboard postings/response will close 15 minutes prior to the class time i.e., due date). OR 2) to take a quiz (5-20 multiple choice/true-false) or answer a short question(s) in the class room. You will be notified in advance in class of chapters to be covered and whether it will be a Blackboard posting or in-class review of quiz/short question/answer (15% of grade). Textbook/Reading (Required) Kristof, D.N. & WuDunn, S. (2010). Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. New York, NY: Vintage Books. ISBN 0307387097 Skolnik, R. (2012). Global Health 101. Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. ISBN-: 9780763797515 (Throughout this syllabus it is abbreviated as Skolnik). There will be several online resources (case studies, recent journal articles, and current news) posted in Blackboard Resources section. Also, a number of articles related to the course will be provided in class (mostly for class discussion purposes) Recommended Books (only if you are interested to read). Easterly, W. (2007). The white man's burden: Why the West's efforts to aid the rest have done so much ill and so little good. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN: 9780143038825 Niemczura, J. (2009). The hospital at the end of the world. Medical stories from a place far off the beaten path of twenty-first-century medicine: A front row seat with Christian medical missionaries in the foothills of the Himalayas. Austin, TX: Plain View Press. ISBN- 9781935514282 (List of other recommended books and articles will be posted in Blackboard).
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Tentative Course Outline & Class Schedule: Please note that some part of this outline may change in the course of the semester. Date 1/24/12 Topic - Introduction to Course Resources/Assignment (Read before you come to class) Blackboard Quiz (BBQ): Week 1 (Ch. 1,2) Due:(Note: all BBQ will include readings from the main text-book) Due: 1/31/12 -Skolnik Chapter 1 -Fried et al., (2011). Global health is public health. The Lancet, 375 (13 February). -Skolnik Chapter 2 BBQ: Week 2 (Ch. 3, 15) Due:2/07/12 -Skolnik Chapter 3; Half the Sky Ch. 10, 11 -Skolnik Chapter 15 -The U.S. Governments global health policy architecture: structure, programs, and Funding. Recent policy update at: http://www.kff.org/globalhealth/ 2/07/12 BBQ: Week 3 (Ch. 4) Due:2/14/12 -Skolnik Chapter 4; Half the Sky Intro. BBQ: Week 4 (Ch.5, 6) Due: 2/21/12 -Skolnik Chapter 5 (2/16: Provide list of group members for group project Post Group Registration form in Blackboard) -Skolnik Chapter 6, Half the Sky Ch. 4, 8,10 BBQ: Week 5 (Ch.7,8) Due: 3/06/12 -Skolnik Chapter 7 -Skolnik Chapter 8 - January 2008 Lancet series on maternal and child under nutrition: http://www.thelancet.com/series/maternaland-child-undernutrition Week 6 (Ch 9,10)

1/26/12

- The Principles and Goals of Global Health

1/31/12 2/02/12 2/07/12 & 2/09/12

- Health Determinants, Measurements and Trends - Health, Education, Poverty and the Economy - Working Together to Improve Global Health & the U.S. Global Health Policy

2/14/12 2/16/12 & 2/21/12 2/23/12 2/28/12 3/01/12 3/06/12

- Ethical and Human Rights Concerns in Global Health An Introduction to Health Systems

Culture and Health EXAM 1 (Mid-term) The Environment and Health Nutrition and Health

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3/08/12 3/20/12

Womens Health Child Health

3/22/12 & 3/27/12 3/29/12 & 4/03/12 4/05/12 4/10/12 4/12/12 4/17/12 4/19/12 & 4/24/12

Movie/Book/Discussion Communicable and NonCommunicable Diseases Conflicts, Natural Disasters, and Other Health Emergencies Unintentional Injuries Science, Technology, and the Public Health Global Health and Aging Immigrant and Refugee Health

Due: 3/20/12 -Skolnik Chapter 9 ; Half the Sky: Ch. 3,6,7,13, -Skolnik Chapter 10 Week 7 (Ch.11, 12) Due: 3/27/12 (Due: Individual paper) 3/27/12 Week 8 (Ch14) Due: 4/03/12 - Skolnik Chapter 11 & 12 Week 9 (Ch.13,16) Due: 4/10/12 -Skolnik Chapter 14, Half the Sky:5 Skolnik Chapter 13 -Skolnik Chapter 16 Handouts + Readings Handouts + Readings 4/24/12 Due: Issues/Group Paper (Submit hard-copy in class post a pdf file in blackboard (Group Paper Submission Space) - and email the Power-point Slides Write title in subject line).

4/26/12 & 5/01/12 5/03/12 Final Examination

Power-point Presentations in the Class Revision/Discussion On the date and time scheduled by the Registrars office (Check ISIS account)

Guest Lectures: There will be a number of guest lecturers. You will be notified in class about guest lecture schedules (also check Blackboard: Guest Lecture Space for dates)

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GUIDELINES: INDIVIDUAL WRITTEN PAPER

Each Student will write a 4-5 page (excluding title, abstract, reference, tables) paper on current health status and causes of health disparities among ethnic/racial minorities in the U.S. The paper should address the following points: a) Paper must be typed (double spaced), 12 font, Times New Roman. First page should include the title and name of the student. Second page should include an abstract between 150 and 250 words. All literature must be referenced using APA format. (See
http://www.uml.edu/Libraries/Create_Bibliography/q-cite.html scroll down to Websites and click American Psychological Association APA- formats). Writing should be clear, organized, and

carefully edited. (10%) b) Briefly summarize the key health indicators (access to care, infant mortality rate, life expectancy at birth, nutritional status.) of citizens in the U.S. Compare U.S. health indicators to another developed (high-income) country (as specified by the World Bank http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lendinggroups#Low_income ). (25%) c) Discuss how health issues/indicators are similar/different between racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. (25%) d) Discuss why health disparities exist between racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. Use literature to support. (30%) e) Discuss 2-3 major strategies adopted by federal/state government or private/nongovernmental organizations to address health disparities in the U.S. (10%) Note: Description, discussion & analysis should be supported by resources from professional academic journals (at least 3) and authentic web-sites (at least 2). DUE DATE: 3/20/12 (Submit hard copy in class).

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GROUP PROJECT IN GLOBAL HEALTH GUIDELINES

Students should identify a group with whom they want to work on this project. There should be 4-5 students in each working group. Each group must choose 1 underdeveloped (low-income or lower middle income) country as specified by the World Bank http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lendinggroups#Low_income ). Each group should identify the role (division of work) of each member of the group (fill the Group Registration Form available in Blackboard). The list of group members and the selected country and role of each member (Fill a form and post in the Blackboard space) in the project must be posted in the Blackboard space no later than 2/16/12. If two or more groups choose the same topic/country, the group who posted the registration file first in Blackboard will get the preference for the topic/country and other groups must select a different topic/country that is not chosen by any other group. (To reserve a topic, groups should identify the role of each member/division of work and register by posting the Group Registration Form (available in blackboard) in Blackboard. You should regularly check Blackboard for topics/countries that are taken by other groups please do not email me to ask if any country has been taken/registered or not for the group project). Each member of the group is expected to participate in writing the paper in a collaborative manner and to contribute to editing the paper. Divide the work load between your group members. Each group will be required to present a Power-Point presentation and to briefly summarize verbally to the class. (If any group member is not working on their part in the group, it should be notified to the professor by 3/16/12) Each group should do the following on/by 4/24/12: a) Submit their paper (hard copy) in class b) Email (via Blackboard) the Power-Point presentation file (in the email subject write Group topic Name of the Country. In the email content write names of all group members). c) Post (attach the group project file .PDF format) in the Discussion Space in Blackboard (Subject line should be the title of the project). (this will provide an opportunity for you to go through your classmates group projects). Each group will be required to present a Power-Point visually and to briefly summarize verbally to the class 4/26/12 & 5/01/12. All students will be provided the opportunity to view each Power-Point presentation during class on that day.

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Each group should address the following in your paper: Students need to include references and citations for at least 5 articles written in the past 5 years from professional journals and 2 web sites related to health issues of the country you selected. a) Papers (9-10 pages; excluding title, abstract, and reference pages) must be typed and referenced using APA format (See http://www.uml.edu/Libraries/Create_Bibliography/qcite.html scroll down to Websites and click American Psychological Association APA- formats)

with 12 fonts, double-spaced, Times New Roman. First page should include title of the paper and name of students. Second page should include an abstract between 150 and 250 words. Writing style should be clear, organized, and carefully edited. (10%) b) Identify demographic, social, and economic indicators of the country you selected (current information). Discuss the nature and the magnitude of the key Nutrition issues, issues in Womens and Childrens health, and issues in the burden of particular Infectious & Non-infectious Disease(s) faced in the country you selected. For each issue discuss i) who is affected by it? ii) What are the risk factors for each of the issues? iii) What are the economic and social consequences of the problem (also discuss the links between the 3 health issues with social and economic development). iv) What few priority steps do you recommend be taken to address the problems in cost-effective ways for each issues and what is your rationale for these recommendations. Use literature to support your answer (45%). c) Discuss briefly the health care system of the country you selected (10%). d) Discuss U.S. global health policy (if US is involved in the country you selected) and the role of the international community (Governments/Non-Government Organizations/private sector) in addressing the 3 issues (nutrition, womens and childrens health, and burden of infectious and non-infectious diseases) of the country you selected. Which health intervention programs were effective and which were not? Do you think the health intervention experiences from the country you chose can be replicated to other developing countries/regions of the world? Why or why not? What difficulties would one expect to encounter in proposing solutions to the particular health issues?? (15%) Power-Point Requirements: 1. Power-Point presentation should summarize the key points of the paper in a clear concise format. (10%) 2. Power-Point should be easy to read, attractive, and professionally presented for 15 minutes. All members in the group should make a presentation on their part. Longer than 15 minutes presentation will reduce your grade. (10%)

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Important Dates: Assignments Date 2/28/12 First exam Post/provide list of group members in 2/16/12 Blackboard 3/20/12 (due) Individual paper 3/16/12 Difficulties in group project 4/24/12 (due) Group Project 4/26/12 and/or 5/01/12 Power-point presentations in class Quiz or short question-answer in Weekly (see due dates) Blackboard/ or in class Randomly taken/assigned in class Participation/Attendance/Critical Thinking/Response Papers Check Registrars web-site / ISIS account Final Exam

Extra-Credit Work 1: (2% points) (all steps should be fulfilled to earn extra credit).
1) Explore and select a recent (within a year) newspaper/magazine/website (not from a blog or opinion column) article related to Global Health issues (related to course chapters/content). 2) Register/reserve your presentation day by signing in the Extra-Credit Sign-up Sheet (either at the beginning or end of class) (do not email). (or will set up a sign-up sheet in Blackboard will inform you in class). Registration will close on 2/07/12. (you can register first and explore articles and post in BB later but remember the articles cannot be repeated) 3) Post the article (web-link or attach file) in Blackboard Extra Credit space. Make sure that your article has not been previously posted in Blackboard (or presented in Class). 4) Bring the article to class (you can start presenting from the second class) (give a copy of it to me with your name and student ID written on top) and present the summary (including an explanation of why you think the article relates/is of interest to the Global Health course if the instructor feels sufficient explanation was not provided, you will not be eligible for extra credit points) of it to the class (maximum time: 2-3 minutes with time for students questions). In a class a maximum of 2-3 extra-credit presentations will be entertained (except on guest lecture, exam, movie, group project presentation days). If there is a guest lecture on your scheduled presentation day, you will present in the following class. If you are unable to present on the reserved date you wont be able to re-schedule the presentation. So, make sure you dont miss your presentation. 5) Present one article to earn extra credit points. After presenting send me an email notifying that you presented extra-credit work in class (for your records).

Extra Credit Work 2: (2% Point)

Suggest course-related web or print resources (not from the text-book or those discussed in class) (at least 5) that explain or illustrate course concepts effectively and accurately. Write an evaluation of the resource and describe why the resource is effective for learning in Global Health class. (submit hard copy in class on 4/26/12)

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