Global Burden of Disease, 9 credits

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.

After the course, the student should be able to: 

• Analyse the global burden of disease, including variations over time and across income levels, regions, and populations.  
• Discuss the implications of these variations for priority setting in global health. 
• Analyse disease burden, trends and key determinants of non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, maternal health, newborn health, child health, adolescent health, nutritional diseases and injuries using epidemiological and health systems data. 
• Explain the role of vaccines in preventing and reducing the global burden of disease. 
• Analyse the effects of falling child mortality and fertility on global population growth and the global burden of disease. 
• Apply epidemiological, medical, social, ethical, and systems perspectives in the analysis of the global burden of disease. 

This course builds on the concepts introduced in An Introduction to Global Health, focusing on a detailed analysis of the global burden of disease. Understanding the global burden of disease is key in global health, because it helps 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. 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. 

Vaccines play an important role in reducing disease burden, and the course will look at real-world examples, such as efforts to reduce measles and polio through vaccination programmes. 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. 

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

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 the final examination are compulsory.

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.

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.

The course language is English.

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