PUBH A213: Social Determinants of Health, Disparities and Equities
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Curriculum Committee Approval Date | 12/06/2023 |
| Top Code | 083700 - Health Education |
| Units | 3 Total Units |
| Hours | 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54) |
| Total Outside of Class Hours | 0 |
| Course Credit Status | Credit: Degree Applicable (D) |
| Material Fee | No |
| Basic Skills | Not Basic Skills (N) |
| Repeatable | No |
| Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S) |
| Associate Arts Local General Education (GE) |
|
| Associate Science Local General Education (GE) |
|
Course Description
This course will examine personal and social determinants of health through the examination of the role individuals play in their own health and well-being, along with the impact of environmental, social, structural, and cultural factors that play a role both in individual and community and public health. Health disparities and inequities in sexually diverse, gender, racial, and minority populations will be explored, and culturally competent ideas to bridge the health equity gap and improve population health will be developed. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. C-ID: PH 113.C-ID: PH 113.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Analyze case studies to identify how social determinants of health create health inequities and disparate health outcomes in vulnerable populations.
- Analyze with a critical lens how laws, policies, and politics that govern social policy and practices affect population health.
- Apply concepts of social determinants to health promotion, community organizing, social inclusion, and public health interventions.
Course Objectives
- 1. Identify and describe the social determinants of health and their individual, interactive, and combined influences on individual and community and public health.
- 2. Define important concepts, such as culture, diversity, health disparities, health equities, health inequalities, and cultural competency, and understand how they intersect with individual and population health status.
- 3. Explore the discipline of Social Epidemiology that focuses particularly on the effects of social-structural factors on states of health and assumes that the distribution of advantages and disadvantages in a society reflects the distribution of health and disease.
- 4. Examine the life course, the social gradient and health, and the complex relationship between income, labor market disadvantage, unemployment, job security, and population health status.
- 5. Examine institutions of health, health education, and healthcare services with specific emphasis on access, affordability, diversity, equity, cultural competence, and gender, race, ageist, and sexual orientation biases.
- 6. Analyze health from a psychosocial perspective on social support, social patterning, social cohesion and inclusion in school, the workforce, and community.
- 7. Examine the relationship of etiology and stigma, poverty, social exclusion, race, and immigration and minority status as major social determinants of health that drive morbidity, mortality, and health disparities.
- 8. Analyze how housing conditions, neighborhoods, transportation, food security/insecurity, and social patterning behaviors affect population health status.
- 9. Understand how politics that govern social policy and practices affect population health.
- 10. Apply research methods that are useful in identifying and understanding the relationships between the social determinants of health and culture, race, gender, and sexual orientation.
- 11. Examine case studies and describe the challenges to achieving cultural competency, social inclusion, and social justice, and identify ways to contribute to social justice that bridge the health equity gaps and improve health within local communities, nations, and/or the world.
- 12. Apply concepts of social determinants to health promotion, community organizing, social inclusion, and public health interventions
Lecture Content
Social determinants of health Environmental conditions Social circumstances, including education, income, and social status Individual behavioral choices and coping skills Access to health services, health education, and healthcare services Biology and genetic endowment Gender, identity, and orientation Culture and race Important concepts intersect with individual and population health status Culture Diversity Health disparities Health equities Health inequalities Cultural competency Social Epidemiology Social gradient and health Income Labor market disadvantage Unemployment Job security Examine institutions of health, health education, and healthcare services Access Affordability Diversity Equity Cultural competence Gender, race, ageist, and sexual orientation biases Psychosocial perspective of health Social support Social patterning Social cohesion Inclusion in school, the workforce, and the community Etiology of illness, disease, and health disparities Stigma Poverty Social exclusion Race Immigrant status Minority status Environment Housing conditions Neighborhoods Transportation Food security/insecurity Social patterning behaviors Substance abuse Violence, Gangs Politics Social policy and practices Models of health Globalization and human health Research methods Social determinants of health Culture > Race Gender Sexual orientation Case studies Challenges of cultural competency, social inclusion, and social justice Contributions Local National Global Application of Social Determinants Health promotion Community organizing Social inclusion Public health interventions
Method(s) of Instruction
- Lecture (02)
- DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
- DE Online Lecture (02X)
Instructional Techniques
Lecture, discussion, in-class activities, online discussions, case studies
Reading Assignments
Students will read the textbook chapters and instructor-provided supplements. (2 hours a week)
Writing Assignments
Students will respond to instructor-provided prompts in short assignments. They will also complete essay responses on quizzes. They will respond to ethical situations in epidemiology. (2 hours a week)
Out-of-class Assignments
Students will complete case studies requiring the application of course material. Preparation assignments that require students to answer specific questions that will be discussed in an upcoming class meeting (3 hours a week)
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
Students will evaluate a variety of case studies to identify social determinants that impact population health. Students will participate in discussions on a variety of contemporary and controversial topics in public health.
Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Students will provide written analysis of case studies, complete problems on quizzes, and respond to essay questions.
Eligible Disciplines
Health: Masters degree in health science, health education, biology, nursing, physical education, kinesiology, exercise science, dietetics, or nutrition OR bachelors degree in any of the above AND masters degree in public health, or any biological science OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.
Textbooks Resources
1. Required Davidson, A.. Social Determinants of Health, A Comparative Approach, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2019 2. Required Barr, D.. Health Disparities in the United States, Social Class, Race, Ethnicity, and the Social Determinants of Health, 3rd ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2019