Global Health Perspectives: Social, Economic and Ethical Dimensions

Course Description
The history of global health can be divided into two strands: the first focuses on the population through the control of infectious diseases and the second focuses on the individual through health systems. Due to globalization, climate change and other factors, infectious diseases ceased to be considered a problem of tropical regions and became the focus of various international organizations and institutions.
Therefore, Global Health Social Determinants of Health (SDH) are the components of the environment in which the population develops, the place where they live, the resources they have, food, education and access to medical care and health care, in short, they are socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions. This is relevant to Global Health issues because there is currently great inequality between countries, as well as between certain groups and populations within the same country.
This course delves into the intricate intersection of social sciences and global health. Students will critically analyze the cultural, ethical, economic and structural challenges that global health confronts worldwide. Through a comparative lens, the course explores diverse approaches to health care system organization, decolonization, women's health, and the pursuit of universal health coverage.

Learning Objectives
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to: 
• Demonstrate a theoretical understanding of different social science perspectives on global health
• Analyze the economic, cultural, ethical, and structural dimensions of global health challenges
• Evaluate strategies for ensuring universal access to healthcare: health as a universal right
• Apply social science theories and concepts to understand and address global health disparities.
• Examine how cultural and religious beliefs relate to global health
 

Course Content
Week 1: Global Health

• Explaining the Syllabus
• What is global health?

Week 2: Social Determinants of Health

• Social Determinants of Health
• Health indicators
• Life History

Week 3: Sexual and Reproductive Health

• Sexuality in Global Health
• Reproductive Health
• Queer and LGBT Global Health Themes

Week 4: Women Global Health

• Global burden of disease
• Maternal Mortality
• Menstruation in the world
• Violence

Week 5: Masculinities and Global Health

• Health Behaviors
• Culture and Health

Week 7: Infectious and communicable Diseasesand Complex Humanitarian Emergencies

• Vaccination
• Climate Change
• Pandemics

Week 8: Migration and Global Health

• Migrants and Refugees
• Mental Health
• Girls and women

Week 9: From Nutrition and Malnutrition to Food Insecurity

• Weight Stigma
• Malnutrition
• Food insecurity

Week 11: Chronic or non-transmissible diseases: tobacco, vaping and more

• Tobacco industry / Vaping
• NTDs

Week 10: Health Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change

• Global Warming
• Vectors
• Draught and health impact

Week 12: Mental Global Health

• Anxiety, depression and gender
• Aging and mental health

Week 13: Life Stages: Emerging Adulthood and AgingInternational Cooperation in Global Health

• Aging, youth and emerging adulthood
• Cooperation

Week 14: Decolonizing Global Health: Ethics matter & The Future of Global Health

• Decolonization 
• Future discussions and solutions