Overview

Child health programmes are going through a challenging phase as they strive to meet global targets while addressing the need for evidence-based interventions.

This short course introduces key concepts and global issues in child health and disability. It will also provide a background to evidence-based child health interventions.

You'll develop your knowledge of common childhood illnesses and strategies on how to control these in developing countries.

You'll also have the opportunity to share experiences with a wide range of people, including clinicians and those with experience of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Course content

As well as introducing you to the key child-health challenges and interventions, the course will examine:

• the burden of disease, mechanisms and determinants of key childhood illnesses
• the evidence for interventions
• the successes and challenges of key programmes

Lecture topics include the following:

• History and perspectives of child health
• Causes of child mortality, morbidity and disability
• Mechanisms, interventions and programmes for newborn health, vaccine-preventable diseases, nutrition, infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS and mental health
• Disabilities
• Child development and developmental delay
• Child protection
• Child health in the community
• Adolescent health

Who this course is for

This course is suitable for maternal and child-health professionals, programme managers and those with an interest in child health and/or public health.

Teaching, structure and assessment

This course is taught on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays over two weeks.

It involves lectures, in-depth discussions, group work (including case studies) and self-study.

Information and reading materials are provided via Moodle (a virtual learning environment).

As a short course student you won't be formally assessed, but you're expected to fully participate in group work. You'll receive a certificate of attendance on completion of the course.

This course can also be taken as a taster course, allowing you to earn UCL credits.

The taster course is assessed by a 2,000 word essay.

Find out more about the difference between short and taster courses on the IGH website.

Learning outcomes 

By the end of the course you should:

• be able to identify and discuss important issues in international child health and disability
• be familiar with the history and design of child health programmes and strategies
• have gained knowledge about common childhood illnesses, and strategies for their control in developing countries
• understand child development issues and models of disability
• be confident in finding, reading and assessing international health information
• have thought about your particular interests within the international health field

Entry requirements 

For the short course you'll need:

• professional work experience in a relevant area and/or a first or second-class honours degree in a relevant subject (e.g. health, education, psychology, international development)
• a good standard of English proficiency

Course participants usually have a background in maternal and child health or public health, either through training or work experience. 

Cost and concessions

The fees for the short course are:

• Home/EU - £850
• Overseas - £1,200
• Overseas low-middle income countries - £750
• IGH staff - free 
• other UCL staff - £400
• IGH/UCL alumni - £650

The fees for the taster course are:

• Home/EU - £950
• Overseas - £1,300
• Overseas low-middle income countries - £850
• IGH staff - £100
• other UCL staff - £500
• IGH/UCL alumni - £750

Course team

Dr Zelee Hill

Zelee is a Senior Lecturer at UCL’s Institute for Global Health (IGH).

Her research spans several areas of maternal, child and neonatal health. These include care seeking, micronutrient supplementation, adherence to anti-retroviral therapy, improving the performance of community health workers, and community newborn care. At its core, her research has focused on interventions that can be implemented in real life settings, that explore cutting edge issues and that have direct policy implications.

Zelee has significant experience working in Africa (Ghana, Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Nigeria), Latin America (Brazil, Peru), and Asia (Vietnam, India, Pakistan). 

Course information last modified: 30 Nov 2022, 16:00