Module ANTH2101: Critical and Applied Medical Anthropology

Department: Anthropology

ANTH2101: Critical and Applied Medical Anthropology

Prerequisites

• ANTH 1041 and (for 2014-15 only HUSS 1191 Health, Illness and Society)

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To provide students with a broad understanding of theoretical issues in health policy, applied health research and anthropological practice internationally, within a specific focus on developing countries.
• To give students a basic grounding in theories and methods of contemporary research in applied medical anthropological, including regional specificities and schools.

Content

• The course consists of two core components, one focusing on critical theories and the other on application and practice.
• (i) Contemporary health issues in context: Students are introduced to critical perspectives on health, analysing political, social and economic dynamics contextually.
• This part of the module offers a critical evaluation of different health issues in specific regions: HIV/AIDS epidemics, reproductive and sexual health, mother and child health, trauma and displacement, comparative bioethical issues, aging and dementia, disability, structural inequality of access to care.
• (ii) Applied health research and policy design: Students examine the elements which form a successful research project, learning how to design a research question and an appropriate a policy-related research question based on a review of appropriate literature
• This section of the module will include examination of public health documents and databases, ethical considerations, data collection and sampling, methodology.
• Specific topics will vary from year to year, but teaching will be research-led depending on the regional and thematic specialisations of the lecturers.
• (iii)Across the module students explore in depth the cultural and social roots of health in a developing country setting. Group work toward regional presentations and individual drafting of a policy proposal.

Learning Outcomes

• Understanding of some of the major theories of medical anthropology and applied research.
• Familiarity with major recent trends in international health policy and practice. Understanding of some of the major health policy issues in developing and industrialised countries.
• Understanding of the cultural and social context of health policy and practice.
• Awareness of current debates about the role of anthropology in health and development policy and practice, especially the possibility of collaboration with public health authorities and critical approach to public health.

• Evaluation and critique of different theoretical approaches to health policy.
• Application of theoretical approaches in health policy to particular case studies.
• Critical review of key texts in the anthropology of health.
• Awareness and practice of particular methods and methodological issues in medical anthropology.

• Critical essay writing.
• Group presentations in class
• Use of a wide range of information sources to address particular problems
• Policy proposal writing

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Themes are developed in lectures, and lectures are complemented by classes that go into selected topics in more depth, promote group problem solving, examine case-studies and incorporate group presentations.
• Students will therefore be able to comment on content of literature, lectures and classes, as well as facilitating each other's learning while guided by tutors.
• Formative assessment involves the preparation of a regional group presentation, while a longer critical essay and the health policy proposal form a total package of summative assessment.
• There will be a DUO site for this module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Group presentations in class using power point.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University