Module ANTH2277: Health and Inequality

Department: Anthropology

ANTH2277: Health and Inequality

Prerequisites

• Health, Illness and Society (ANTH1041) OR Being Human (ANTH1111)

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• none.

Aims

• To engage critical perspectives from social epidemiology and medical anthropology in understanding the drivers of health inequalities and inequities, between and within populations.
• To apply these perspectives to a range of health problems affecting contemporary human populations (including communicable and non-communicable diseases).

Content

• Core theory and principles from social epidemiology and medical anthropology in relation to health and inequality. Content will vary year-to-year as new concepts and debates emerge, but may include: inequality and inequity, structural violence, theories of causation, metrics and measurements, political ecology of health, life course perspectives, and syndemics.
• Application of theory and principles to a range of contemporary health issues. These will vary from year to year, but may include: “lifestyle” (non-communicable) diseases, mental illness, pandemic threats, neglected “tropical” diseases, etc.

Learning Outcomes

• A critical understanding of the core theories and principles of social epidemiology and medical anthropology, in relation to understanding health inequalities and inequities.
• An appreciation of the relationships between epidemiology, medical anthropology and clinical medicine.
• Understanding the difference between health inequalities and health inequities, and between proximate and ultimate (or upstream/downstream) causes of health inequalities and inequities.
• Critical understanding of the social and political drivers of a range of contemporary health problems.

• Critical application of core theories and principles of social epidemiology and medical anthropology to contemporary health problems.
• Ability to distinguish between different levels/types of drivers of health inequities, and understand their relevance to addressing sources of those inequities.
• Ability to apply epidemiological and anthropological insights to health problems in policy-relevant ways.

• Application of abstract theory and principles to real-world health problems.
• Ability to read, critically evaluate and synthesise relevant literature from multiple academic disciplines (epidemiology, clinical medicine, and medical anthropology) and policy literature.
• Ability to interpret and critically evaluate quantitative and qualitative data and analyses relating to population health.
• Ability to write for academic and policy audiences.

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

• Lectures introduce students to the course material. They may consist of live presentations, guest lectures, break-out discussions, or other activities as appropriate to the material covered from week to week. 
• Seminars will provide students with an opportunity to explore and discuss material from the lectures and readings in depth with their tutors and peers. They may involve student presentations, break-out discussions, or other activities as appropriate to the material covered from week to week. 
• Summative assessment is by one 2000-word written assignment, which may take the form of a standard academic essay or a more policy-focused piece of writing.
• Formative assessment is a 500-word written assignment.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Written feedback on one formative assignment. Verbal feedback in seminars.

■ 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