| Unit name | Anthropology & Global Health |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BRMS30024 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Cabral |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one | |
| School/department | Bristol Medical School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
This unit will provide a more in-depth introduction to the anthropology of global health and healthcare in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) contexts. The course is research-rich, using case studies from recent and current research. It will introduce key anthropological theories and methods used for investigating global health and include approaches to decolonising anthropology in global health. It gives an anthropological perspective on understanding the role of both cultural beliefs and societal influences in shaping health practices at an individual, organisational and state level. Drawing on anthropological research, this unit will examine key health problems and how they can be addressed. These include infectious diseases, vaccination, mental health, maternity care, malaria and neglected tropical diseases, long-term conditions (e.g. diabetes) and disability. This unit will look at how we can use anthropological approaches to inform public health interventions in LMIC contexts.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This is a specialist subject option that will provide you with insights into anthropological approaches to global health challenges. It will introduce you to a range of research approaches and evidence that differ from but can complement biomedical approaches, providing insights into how interdisciplinary research can be particularly informative. It will provide a broad knowledge base and equip you to critically engage with the global health literature.
An overview of content
In this unit you will learn about key anthropological theories, concepts and research methods. We will explore how anthropological research can be used to throw new light on health problems. We will cover a range of topics including medical pluralism, illness models, medicalisation, cross-cultural psychiatry, cultural birth practices, social constructions of illness and health, and structural violence. We will look at how anthropological approaches to inform public health interventions in LMIC contexts, dangers of magic bullet interventions, case studies of anthropologically informed health interventions.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
This unit will give you a grounding in anthropological approaches to global health. It will enable you to engage more critically with the literature on global health. Exploring anthropological approaches to understanding health inequalities (political and economic anthropology), will improve your understanding of how health structures and systems can contribute to inequalities in LMIC context. It will introduce you to an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and addressing a wide range of health problems.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the Unit, you will be able to:
The teaching is a mixture of structured and self-directed learning:
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
In the weekly workshops you will work in groups to discuss questions that ask you to apply what you learned from the lecture to a particular health problem. This will help you prepare you for the summative assessment. You will receive verbal feedback from staff and peers. A formative group presentation assessment will allow you to apply your knowledge and gain feedback to support learning.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
An authentic assessment in the form of an on-line open book assessment (short and long answer questions) that will test your learning and problem-solving skills (100% of final unit mark).
When assessment does not go to plan
As this is a final year unit, reassessment is not normally permitted. However, in light of self-certification of absences or certified exceptional circumstances, the Exam Board may award a further attempt at failed or missed assessment. The reassessment will normally be in the same format as the original assessment. See the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further details
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BRMS30024).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
