Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Women and Women’s Health in Countries of Conflict

Course Description

OBJECTIVES: The main objectives of this interdisciplinary course are to expose course participants to issues in women’s health and in particular identify areas for practical interventions relevant to women’s health amid conflict and crisis. You will be exposed to a variety of scholars and researchers in the field who have worked in countries in conflict and learn and participate in discussions on – ethical, legal, political, social, cultural, and health system frameworks in an effort to understand and take action on the issues identified. In addition, this course explores new insights into leadership based on breakthrough discoveries about leadership laws and case studies of innovative programs and what students can practically do to make an impact on women and women’s health and translate those learnings to other global health challenges facing our world today.

OUTLINE: This course is divided into 4 main parts:

1) An overview on health systems and components.

2) Various cases studies of countries in conflict and the impact on women and women’s health, presented by professionals in the field.

3) Food security challenges and other factors affecting women and women’s health

4) Solutions – devising interventions,   Leadership programs and media campaigns for women and women’s health in countries in conflict

Course Objectives

In this course students will:

• Understand the components and the broad framework of the health systems, challenges to health systems in countries in conflict, effects of conflict on health system and health systems as they relate to women’s Health.
• Understand the complex situations which affect health and health systems as well as health in countries of conflict
• Define problems and major issues facing women in countries of conflict including malnutrition and food security challenges.
• Identify the root causes and contributors to these problems and identify priority areas for intervention
• Understand the ethical and legal frameworks which currently exist and obstacles to their implementation
• Identify and discuss creative solutions to address issues identified, with a focus on women’s health and empowerment, linking learning and action to their course of study/career path.