Course syllabus for Global Burden of Disease

Globala sjukdomsbördan

Specific entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree or a professional degree equivalent to a Swedish Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits. And proficiency in English equivalent to English B/English 6.

Outcomes

After the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

• Describe the global burden of disease, its trends and key determinants as well as the causes of variations between income levels, regions and populations.
• Describe the most important public health interventions to prevent and reduce the global burden of disease.

Competence and Skills

• Compare trends, determinants and variations in the global burden of disease across regions, income levels and populations using epidemiological and health systems data.
• Analyse the effects of falling child mortality and fertility on global population growth and changes in the global burden of disease.

Judgement and Approach

• Discuss the implications of variations in the global burden of disease over time, income levels, regions and populations for setting priorities in global health.
• Apply epidemiological, medical, social, ethical, and systems perspectives in the analysis of the global burden of disease.

Content

This course builds on the concepts introduced in the course An Introduction to Global Health, focusing on a detailed analysis of the global burden of disease. Understanding the global burden of disease helps to identify the most significant health issues affecting different populations and guides decision-making on resource allocation and interventions. By looking at how disease patterns vary over time and across regions, and income levels, students will gain a clearer understanding of how these differences shape global health priorities.

The course covers a range of health challenges, including both infectious and non-communicable diseases, mental health, nutrition, and injuries; as well as the most important public health interventions to prevent and reduce disease burden from these causes. Students will use epidemiological and health systems data to analyse the causes and distribution of disease. Sexual, reproductive, newborn, child, and adolescent health are also explored, highlighting how these areas interact with broader social factors and health systems.

Students will also explore demographic trends, like decreasing child mortality and fertility rates, and how these affect population growth and shifts in disease patterns. The course builds on earlier learning, helping students apply epidemiological, medical, social, ethical, and systems perspectives in analysing global health challenges both at individual level as well as in teams for example as case studies.

Teaching methods

Teaching methods include interactive key-note lectures, seminars, practical exercises and peer-learning through group work.

Examination

This course is assessed by group assignments, which are marked as fail or pass, and an individual written examination, which is marked as fail, pass or pass with distinction. To pass the course, students must achieve a pass grade in the group assignments and the written examination. To achieve a pass with distinction on the course, students must achieve a pass on the group assignments and a pass with distinction on the written examination

In addition, all compulsory parts of the course must be completed to pass.

Compulsory participation
Participation in seminars, practical exercises, group work and study visits.

The examiner assesses if, and in that case how, absence from compulsory educational elements can be compensated for. Before the student has participated in the compulsory educational elements or compensated the absence in accordance with the examiner's instructions, the final course results will not be reported. Absence from a compulsory educational component may imply that the student cannot compensate for the missed compulsory educational element until the next time the course is given.

Limitation of number of occasions to write the exam
Students who have not passed the regular examination are entitled to participate in five more examinations. If the student has not passed the exam after four participations, he/she is encouraged to visit the study advisor. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no additional examination or new admission is provided. The number of times that the student has participated in one and the same examination is regarded as an examination session. Submission of a blank examination is also regarded as an examination. An examination for which the student registered but did not participate in will not be counted as an examination.

If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus's regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities, the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities may not be changed, removed or reduced.

Transitional provisions

Examination will be provided during a time of two years after a possible cancellation of the course. Examination can take place according to an earlier literature list during a time of one year after the date when a major renewal of the literature list has been made.

Other directives

The course language is English.

Course evaluation is carried out according to the guidelines that are established by the Committee for Higher Education.

Literature and other teaching aids

Mandatory literature

Scientific articles and other texts that will be shared during the course.