POPLHLTH 210 : Equity and Inequalities in Health

Medical and Health Sciences

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Investigates the way in which social determinants lead to particular distributions of health in populations. Draws on a social epidemiological approach to explore ways in which inequalities in health (based on factors such as age, gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status) are created, then maintained or eliminated.

Course Overview

The issues covered in this course are central to many of the challenges currently faced in the health sector and in broader society today. We hope the course will be interesting, thought-provoking, and stimulating. The different topics in this course will encourage you to question and challenge yourself - and others - both in your study and your future work. This course builds on your previous studies, aiming to deepen your understanding and analysis of health inequities and inequalities from your own experience, the experiences of other groups, and to give you some tools for addressing them in your future work.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: POPLHLTH 102 Restriction: POPLHLTH 201

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Reflect on own and others’ perceptions and experience of equities and inequalities, synthesise information from multiple sources: historical connections, current events and positionalities to construct knowledge and explanations of the effect of these issues on self and the health and wellbeing of other ethnic groups. (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 4.2)
  2. Interpret and apply understanding of theories to explain the connections between societal systems, inequality and equity issues in society. (Capability 1.2, 2.2 and 3.2)
  3. Deconstruct understanding of how societal systems create and maintain inequalities and illustrate knowledge on how these affected diverse communities. (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 3.2)
  4. Understand and deconstruct problems, read and analyse critically, assimilated information from different lenses and sources and discuss ideas in small tutorial groups to create, justify a well presented academically and culturally appropriate intervention plan to reduce inequity and inequality issues affected diverse population groups in New Zealand. (Capability 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 6.1 and 6.3)
  5. Apply theories to critically discuss and demonstrate knowledge about the role of society. (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 3.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Reflection on Own Perspectives 10% Individual Coursework
Literature Review 20% Individual Coursework
Intervention plan 20% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Reflection on Own Perspectives
Literature Review
Intervention plan
Final Exam
Policy on late assessments
It is very important to get your assessments in on time.
If you are not able to meet the deadline for submission you must notify the course coordinator/lecturer, BEFORE the due date/time to avoid penalties resulting from not having an approved extension.
If circumstances prevent a student making an application before the assessment due date/time, the Academic Director will consider and may approve an application for late submission.
The School of Population Health policy on late assessments is as follows:
Due dates for assessments are strictly observed.
Extensions will only be given in exceptional and unavoidable circumstances, and if approved by the course coordinator/lecturer BEFORE the assessment due date. Penalties will be imposed for extensions (see below).
Late assessments where an extension has not been given will be penalised as follows:
Up to 2 weeks (including weekend days) late - 5% off the assessment total mark for each day late e.g.
if an assessment is out of 40 and is 1 day late, then 2 marks (5% of 40) will be deducted from the grade achieved
if an assessment is out of 40 and is 5 days late, then 10 marks (25% of 40) will be deducted from the grade achieved
More than 14 days late – the assessment will NOT be graded

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in the course website located in the University’s learning platform CANVAS which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Course Contacts

Dr Fuafiva Fa'alau
Course Director
f.faalau@auckland.ac.nz

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, each week you are expected to do 2 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Other Information

This course is held at The University of Auckland Grafton Campus. Lectures are at Noon on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tutorials are on Monday at 4 pm, Tuesday at 1 pm or 2 pm, Thursday at 2 pm.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 20/12/2019 03:09 p.m.