International development

Health, Poverty and Inequality

Module code: L2102N
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Workshop, Lecture
Assessment modes: Essay

On this module, you'll explore the relationships between culture, power, knowledge and rights in the study of health and development. Drawing on perspectives from medical anthropology, public health, feminist and activist politics and human rights, you'll examine how poverty and marginality shape experiences of illness. You'll study:

• the impact of infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS
• issues such as homelessness, mental health, and organ donation
• scrutiny of health policies and their implications
• the role of medical technologies in shaping access to health.

By the end of this module, you'll understand how access to health intersects with human rights and global development challenges.

Module learning outcomes

• A theoretical understanding of the different social science perspectives on health and development especially as they relate to issues of social, economic and political power, inequalities and knowledge systems
• A critical understanding of cross-cultural approaches to health and their application
• Sound knowledge of the core reading and a related range of conceptual issues
• The skills to handle material from different disciplinary perspectives in writing