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Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title Global Child Health & Health Inequalities
Module Code HEA1020 (ITS: NS5109)
Faculty Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health School Science & Health
NFQ level 9 Credit Rating 10
Description

In this module students will critically examine the principles of global child health, contemporary and future trends in child health and wellbeing and the research that addresses the health needs of children and their families nationally and internationally. Students will critically examine the impact of health inequities on children/young people and families' lived experience. Global health disparities and social determinants of health that impact the child/young person and family in high, middle and low resource settings will be critically examined. Students will examine the impact of adverse childhood experiences on health and wellbeing and consider the interventions and further developments of integrated services to meet their needs.

Learning Outcomes

1. Analyze trends in global health problems for children and their families and critically evaluate approaches aimed at changing the health status of children, their families and communities through effective models of research and education.
2. Critically examine the epidemiology and social determinants of health for children/young people and their families including health inequalities and the impact on the child/young person and family – including core theories and concepts of health economics and their applications in health policy and advocacy.
3. Critically analyse positive strategies and interventions in achieving health for all children/young people including current and future developments in child/young person healthcare.
4. Appraise current policy and policy framework that exists to reduce child/young person health inequity both nationally and internationally.
5. Examine contemporary perspectives on factors driving child health disparity so that health care providers can become effective advocates for children.
6. Demonstrate a critical awareness of barriers to healthcare for children/young people and their families that can create health disparity.


WorkloadFull time hours per semester
TypeHoursDescription
Lecture5Face-to-face lectures
Lecture12Online synchronous class
Tutorial6Small class group discussions for group work
Fieldwork45Asynchronous engagement with module tasks
Independent Study182Students are given specific readings, both book chapters and journal articles for each lecture. They are expected to review them during their independent learning time
Total Workload: 250
Section Breakdown
CRN20523Part of TermSemester 2
Coursework0%Examination Weight0%
Grade Scale40PASSPass Both ElementsY
Resit CategoryRC1Best MarkN
Module Co-ordinatorCarol BarronModule TeacherRebecca Murphy, Siobhan Macdermott
Assessment Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Group presentationOnline class debate on an issue relating to disparity in global child health30%Week 28
AssignmentA critique of relevant policy or legislation aimed at reducing health inequality (2,500 words)70%Week 30
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
RC1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module.
RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element.

* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Child health trends
• Child health behaviours and lifestyle factors • Parenting styles, community, culture, political and socio economic influences • Increasing prevalence of childhood chronic and life limiting disorders • Inequalities in life expectancy

Understand the principles of global child health
• Impact of globalization on child/young person health and wellbeing • Emphasis on the child/young person's health within resource limited settings and how that is influenced by globalisation • Contemporary perspective on factors driving child health disparity so that health care providers can become effective advocates for children • Barriers to access of healthcare for children/young people and their families that create health disparity

Epidemiology and the social determinants of child health
• Key indicators of children’s health • Integrating the social determinants of child health into practice • Identifying and addressing issues impacting the overall health of children and their families • Role professionals have in epidemiology and the social determinants of health in daily practice, and through advocating for more equitable and child-focussed resource allocation. • Advocacy, international law and health

Inequalities in health
• Impact of health inequality on children/young people and their families • Understanding why children from more disadvantaged backgrounds have worse health than their more advantaged peers • Explore inequality created by lack of education, awareness, understanding • Interventions will be explored to reduce equality differences

Current and future developments in child health care and service provision
• Global health disparities in high, middle and low resource settings for children and their families • Practice and policy frameworks to improve public health and environment • Positive strategies in achieving health for all children/young people including current and future developments in child/young person healthcare and service provision • Equality legislation and policy frameworks. • Focus on childhood disease, child morbidity and mortality and changes that reduce the risk of developing childhood chronic diseases and other morbidities

Indicative Reading List

Books:
  • Kamat, D.M.and Fischer, P.R.: 2015, Textbook of Global Child Health, 2nd, 978-1-58110-9
  • Delan Devakumar,Jennifer Hall,Joy Lawn,Zeshan Qureshi: 2019, Oxford Textbook of Global Health of Women, Newborns, Children, and Adolescents, Oxford University Press, USA, 272, 9780198794684
  • Helen McAvoy,Jane Wilde: 2008, Tackling Health Inequalities, Combat Poverty Agency, 64, 1905485638
  • Ryan Coller,Sarah L. Stewart-Brown: 2015, Child Health, OUP Us, 368, 9780199309375
  • Mel Bartley: 2016, Health Inequality, An Introduction to Concepts, Theories and Methods, Polity, 264, 9780745691091


Articles:
  • Andermann, A., & CLEAR Collaboration: 2016, Taking action on the social determinants of health in clinical practice: a framework for health professionals., Canadian Medical Association journal, 188(17-18), 474–4, https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.160177, 511877
  • 2017: Investigating the impact of the English health inequalities strategy: time trend analysis, BMJ, 358, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j3310, 511878, 1
  • Where is “family” in the social determinants of health? Implications for family nursing practice, research, education, and policy. ,: Journal of Family Nursing, 23 (4), 423-, 511879, 2, Department of Health (2019). .
  • Department of Health: 511881, 1, Social Justice Ireland, 2021
  • 511882: 1, Yiqun Chen, Petra Persson & Maria Polyakova, 2019, THE ROOTS OF HEALTH INEQUALITY AND THE VALUE OF INTRA-FAMILY EXPERTISE, NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES, Working Paper 25618,
  • 1: Kaku, S.M., Sibeoni, J., Basheer, S., Chang, J.P.C., Dahanayake, D.M.A., Irarrazaval, M., Lachman, J.M., Mapayi, B.M., Mejia, A., Orri, M. and Jui-Goh, T.,, 2022, Global child and adolescent mental health perspectives: bringing change locally, while thinkiing globally, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health,, 16 (1),
  • Anyanwu, E.C., Maduka, C.P., Ayo-Farai, O., Okongwu, C.C. and Daraojimba, A.I.,: 2024, Maternal and child health policy: A global review of current practices and future directions. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews,, World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews,, 21 (2),
Other Resources

None

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