Maternal and Child Health
This interdisciplinary field seeks answers for the complex health considerations relating to women, pregnancy, reproduction, and infant and child well being. Students who concentrate in maternal and child health are interested in the intersection between these populations, and how governments and communities can work together to protect and advance the health of women and children across the world. The focus on maternal and child health is a global priority for public health professionals, the United Nations announced in 2010 the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health – a task force organized to educate women across the world about reproductive health, combat infant mortality, and save more than 16 million lives by 2015.
Sample Courses
This course introduces students to the principles of infant, child, and women’s health in developing and underdeveloped nations. It provides an introduction to the examination of service deliveries designed to meet the health needs of women and children globally. Students explore the unique needs of this population through coursework in maternal and infant health, child and adolescent health, and community based needs assessments.
This course will explore the historical, anthropological, and sociopolitical context of intimate partner violence. Intimate partner violence, and intrafamily violence, is an increasing public health threat. The aim of this course is to introduce students to the policies and public health approaches that can enable states and communities to effectively protect women and children from intimate partner and intrafamily violence.
The public health field recognizes that integrating human rights approaches into public health practices and policies can provide a powerful force for social justice and improved health. This course examines direct links between public health policies, political circumstances, and social and economic conditions and their effects on the health of individuals and populations. Areas covered include HIV/AIDS, reproductive justice, refugee rights, and humanitarian action. Students will gain critical skills in contextual analysis, community-based participatory research, and project design.