Sexual and Reproductive Health in a Global Perspective, 7.5 credits

A Bachelor's degree or a professional degree equivalent to a Swedish Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits in healthcare, medicine, public health science or other relevant social sciences subject area. Alternatively 210 credits from the Study Programme in Medicine or a degree in midwifery equivalent to a Swedish degree in midwifery.

Proficiency in the English language should be documented by an internationally recognized test such as TOEFL: internet based (iBT) with a total score of at least 90 and minimum score of 20 on written test; paper based (PBT) with a total score of at least 575, and minimum score 4.5 on written test; or IELTS (academic) with an overall mark of at least 6.5 and no band less than 6.0; or other documentation that according to regulations certifies the equivalence of English B at Swedish upper secondary school.

Knowledge and understanding
The objective of the course is that the student will
* gain knowledge about reproductive health in an international perspective and be familiar with the Millenium goals developed by the United Nations (UN), focusing on maternal and infant health within a gender perspective
* be able to understand the strategies that UN has identified as important to reaching the Millenium goals and declarations that were accepted in combination with the term Safe Motherhood and the demographic conference in Cairo and the Women Conference in Peking.
* understand how political and economic decisions and conditions in health care services influence young children as well as adult potential for good health
* have knowledge about sexual development during adolescence as well as legal and illegal abortion from a global perspective
* have knowledge about birth control and its consequences for reproductive health
* have knowledge about reproductive rights; differences and similarities between low and high income countries; sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV and their consequences from an international perspective
* understand how mental illness relates to reproduction and sexuality
* understand how sexualized violence affects women’s lives and life situations

Skills and abilities
The objective of the course is that the student will
* collaborate in a team working with adolescent sexuality and reproductive health
* develop guidelines to advise about birth control
* develop guidelines for having discussion with women about abortion and follow-up
* acknowledge and respond to questions that arise in relation to mental illness and reproduction and sexuality
* collaborate in treatment to women who have been the victims of sexualized violence, and work to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections

Judgement and approach
The objective of the course is that the student will
* evaluate programs and methods that decrease maternal- and child mortality in a global perspective as well as work to decrease gender inequalities that influence decision-making and deny certain parts of the population access to health care
* develop a professional and ethical demeanor regarding questions of sexuality and reproduction and reflect over inequality in regard to health care and medical treatment across the world

* Millennium goals focusing on the goals 3-5 from the Kairo and Peking conferences on Women’s Health:
3.To promote gender equality and empower women
4.Reduce child mortality
5.Improve maternal heath
*The Cairo an Peking conferenses and Reproductive rights
* "Safe motherhood"
* Adolescence, sexuality and reproductive health
* Fertility control in a global perspective: birth control methods, legal and illegal induced abortions
* Fertility through the life course
* Childlessness
* Sexualized violence
* Mental illness related to reproduction and sexuality
* Differences and similarities between low and high income countries
* Gender aspects of reproductive health
* Sexually transmitted infections(STI)including HIV
* Ethical and legal aspects

Lectures and problem based seminars comprise the major pedagogy, which will incorporate strong student interaction. Students are expected to attend lectures and participate in seminars actively.

A final exam will be comprised of an individual paper with a relevant topic based on a literature review and presented in a final seminar for course colleagues and faculty.

Compulsory attendance: A minimum of 80 % of attendance is required for pass.

The course has been cancelled and was offered for the last time in the spring semester of 2012. Examination will be provided until the spring of 2018 for students who have not completed the course.