Unit Code: PCP810

Unit Name: Epidemiology and Burdens of Non Communicable Diseases

Description: The purpose of this course is to provide knowledge and information about the burden of Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs), risk factors, NCD epidemiology, NCD and the Law and covering other dimensions of NCD globally, in the Pacific and in Fiji. It will review and discuss the Pacific NCD framework and targets, the social determinants and economic burden for NCDs and the causal webs. PCP810 will also discuss the components of NCDs strategies and plans with the different populations and high risk approaches in prioritizing health issues. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases are the four main NCDs contributing to the global burden of diseases. Countries around the world including the Pacific Island nations have acknowledged that the burden of NCDs constitutes one of the major challenges for development in this century. It is a vicious cycle whereby NCDs and their risk factors worsen poverty, while poverty contributes to rising rates of NCDs. Current NCD burden is high in Pacific Island countries and areas placing an enormous burden on individuals, families and communities as well as national health systems. As such Pacific Islands Forum Leaders and the Pacific Ministers of Health meeting have declared the Pacific being in a NCD crisis in 2011. The political declaration of the high level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the prevention and control of NCDs urged relevant international organizations to continue to provide technical assistance and capacity building in the areas of NCD prevention and control. NCDs diseases are preventable. The World Health Organization estimated that up to eighty per cent of diseases could be prevented by eliminating four shared risk factors of tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol. Exposure to these risk factors could be reduced through collective multisectoral and health systems action by governments and key stakeholders The learning activities in cooperates the principles of NCD framework and the social determinants of health in primary care delivery in community and workplace settings in the areas of prevention and control with health promotion towards positive behavioral changes and understanding the NCD burden. The practical component includes the planning and development of a local NCD program

Learning Target Outcomes: On successful completion of this course, the students will be able to: 1. Apply knowledge of epidemiological principles and practice, frameworks, and targets to the natural history of NCDs, in order to describe the current and future burden of disease and related population outcomes and risk factors in Fiji, Pacific and globally 2. Explain how multiple individual and societal factors work to influence the development and natural history of NCDs and their outcomes in the social determinants of health, health-economic burden, NCD causal webs, Law, and trade in the Pacific 3. Explain and demonstrate how various NCDs and related factors interact to impact on outcomes in individuals & communities at highest risk with poorest results & using this as the basis for targeted high-risk approaches. 4. Demonstrate the application of key components of NCD strategic development processes and the relevant programme planning and evaluation 5. Analyse the importance of inter-sectorial approaches in NCD prevention and control and Communicating NCDs 6. Evaluate the other NCD dimensions on the susceptible & vulnerable groups, Mental health, Aging, childhood obesity, Sexual & Reproductive Health, and Climate Change & Health 7. Apply and demonstrate the updated knowledge and skills gained to develop and execute a local NCD program

Prerequisite: Minimum Entry Requirement.

Prerequisite Sentence: N/A

Credit Point: 30

Offered In: Semester 1