Contents
Introduction to global health theory ....................................................................................................... 2
1.1 interpret the most important health indicators ............................................................................ 2
1.2 understand the determinants of health and how they affect the health of a person/population3
1.3 identify and analyze emerging issues and trends in global health ................................................ 4
1.4 name the key actors in global health and the benefits and challenges of global health
partnerships. ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Healthcare systems .................................................................................................................................. 6
2.1 Identify the key objectives of healthcare systems ......................................................................... 6
2.2describe the key functions of healthcare systems .......................................................................... 7
2.3 explain and compare the elements of healthcare systems for selected countries ....................... 7
2.4 analyze the performance of different healthcare systems ............................................................ 8
3. Infectious diseases ............................................................................................................................... 9
3.1 Explain the functioning of the immune system and how it defends the body against infectious
diseases ................................................................................................................................................ 9
3.2 understand the basic terminology relating to infectious diseases and the different types of
Pathogens ........................................................................................................................................... 10
3.3 reproduce basic knowledge of the pathology, transmission and impact & burden of HIV/AIDS,
TB, malaria and the neglected tropical diseases ............................................................................... 12
3.4 identify different factors that influence and may prevent infectious diseases ........................... 16
3.5 Understand the stigma related to these diseases ....................................................................... 16
4 non-communicable diseases and injuries ........................................................................................... 17
4.1 reproduce basic knowledge of the etiology, pathology and impact & burden of the major non
communicable diseases (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, COPD, asthma ................. 17
4.2 Non-communicable diseases and injuries impact on global health in high, middle-income and
low-income countries......................................................................................................................... 18
4.3 identify different factors that influence and may prevent non-communicable diseases and
injuries ................................................................................................................................................ 19
4.4 The cultural aspects of these diseases and injuries ..................................................................... 20
5 Reproductive, maternal, and child health under age five years ......................................................... 21
5.1 describe the prevalence, causes and consequences of unintended pregnancies, infertility,
unsafe abortions, female genital mutilation and interventions for reproductive health ................. 21
5.2 identify the main indicators of child health, the causes of the mortality of children under five,
the interventions to reduce the mortality of children under five and recognize the impact of
reproductive patterns on child health ............................................................................................... 22
5.3 understand the main indicators of maternal health, the causes of maternal mortality, the
interventions to reduce maternal mortality and recognize the impact of reproductive patterns on
maternal health .................................................................................................................................. 23
,6 Migrant and refugee health in a Dutch context.................................................................................. 23
6.1 identify links between health and migration in various phases of the migration process .......... 23
6.2 describe the level of immigration to the Netherlands, the main health issues among the large
migrant and refugee groups in the Netherlands and the determinants of these health issues ....... 24
7 climate change and health .................................................................................................................. 25
7.1 explain the concept climate-sensitive diseases and recognize environmental risk/ climate
change factors that influence health ................................................................................................. 25
7.2 reflect on the impact of climate change in different parts of the world and their impact on
health inequality and vulnerability .................................................................................................... 26
7.3 identify intervention programmers that deal with climate change and health on individual,
community, national and global level ................................................................................................ 26
5 sustainability ....................................................................................................................................... 26
Introduction to global health theory
1.1 interpret the most important health indicators
Health indicator: Health indicators are quantifiable characteristics of a population which researchers
use as supporting evidence for describing the health of a population. Typically, researchers will use a
survey methodology to gather information about certain people, use statistics in an attempt to
generalize the information collected to the entire population, then use the statistical analysis to
make a statement about the health of the population
A good health indicator is:
- Valid
- Reliable
- Sensitive
- Specific
- Feasible
- Relevant
Health indicators
Mortality indicators:
Death rate: The ratio of total deaths to total population in a specified community or area over a
specified period of time. The death rate is often expressed as the number of deaths per 1,000 of the
population per year. Various indicators are:
- Crude death rate
- Age-specific mortality
- Disease-specific mortality
- Event-specific mortality
life expectancy: The average number of years that a newborn could expect to live if he or she were
to pass through life exposed to the sex- and age-specific death rates prevailing at the time of his or
her birth, for a specific year, in a given country, territory or geographical area
infant mortality rate: The probability that a child born in a specific year or period will die before
reaching the age of 1 year, if subject to age-specific mortality rates of that
period, expressed as a rate per 1000 live births
under five mortality rate: The probability of a child born in a specific year or period dying before
reaching the age of 5 years, if subject to age-specific mortality rates
, of that period, expressed per 1000 live births
maternal mortality rate: the annual number of female deaths from any cause related to or
aggravated by pregnancy or its management (excluding accidental or incidental causes) during
pregnancy and childbirth or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration
and site of the pregnancy, expressed per 100 000 live births, for a specified time period.
Morbidity indicators:
Disease rate: what is the incidence (how many new people are diagnosed with the disease)
what is the prevalence: (number of people alive with the disease?)
Disability rate: Sullivan’s index,
DALYs: The disability-adjusted life year (DALY) is a measure of overall disease burden, expressed as
the number of years lost due to ill-health, disability or early death. It is calculated by Years of Life Lost
(YLL) plus Years lost due to disability (YLD)
QUALYs: The quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) is a generic measure of disease burden, including both
the quality and the quantity of life lived
Nutritional indicators: anthropometric indicators
Utilization rates: the proportion of people in need of a service who actually receive it in a given
period, e.g. %
Healthcare indicators: insurance coverage, avoidable hospitalizations
1.2 understand the determinants of health and how they affect the health of a
person/population
The social determinants of health (SDH) are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work,
live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These
forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms,
social policies and political systems.
The 9 SDH are:
- Stress anxiety, social isolation, low self esteem, lack of control and insecurity
- Early life poor circumstances, early education
- Work control of their work, good social environment
- Social exclusion higher risk of having health problems
- Social supportemotional and physical support
- Addiction social and economic disadvantage , unemployment, social breakdown
- Foodpoor diet results in poor health
- Transport
- Employmentjob security increases health
Urbanization: is a population shift from rural to urban areas, "the gradual increase in the proportion
of people living in urban areas", and the ways in which each society adapts to the change. It is
predominantly the process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people
begin living and working in central areas
Urban: An urban area is a human settlement with high population density and infrastructure of built
environment. Urban areas are created through urbanization and are categorized by urban
morphology as cities, towns, conurbations or suburbs
Rural: In general, a rural area or countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and
cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements
