Unit Code: PBH503

Unit Name: Introduction to Pacific Society, Culture and Health

Description: This course will examine social context of health explaining health in the social system. The view of health and illness in the social realm will be discussed and this will look at current perspective & emerging concerns from social Integration. Course content will look at social pathways to health, social inequalities in health, illustrations of the influence of social change on disease, social difference in morbidity and potential explanations of social inequalities in health. Concepts of medical anthropology, concepts & context of culture and cultural significance in health are also part of this course. In terms of cultural significance in health, the focus is on influences of culture on health, cultural approach to determinants of health, examples will be discussed in alignment with: culture and diet, culture and stress and culture and pain. Role of ethnicity in health will be also be analyzed. Other topics in this course include cultural factors in epidemiology, where the relationship of culture and diseases is discussed in references to case studies. The content also promotes how to develop strategic approaches about society, culture and health.

Learning Target Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 1: Describe the social context and pathways influencing health. 2: Discuss social inequalities and their impact on health outcomes. 3: Explain the scope and significance of medical anthropology in understanding health. 4: Examine the role of culture, including cultural frameworks and factors, in shaping health and health perceptions. 5: Analyze societal strategies, policies, and culturally appropriate health programmes aimed at improving health outcomes through comprehensive, culturally sensitive approaches.

Prerequisite: NA

Prerequisite Sentence: N/A

Credit Point: 15

Offered In: Semester 1