Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health

Students will be presented with an overview of health and disease followed by a set of tools for disease prevention and control. They will especially be encouraged to reflect on the importance of epidemiology and surveillance systems (for disease as well as health and for risk factors). They will be tasked with the application of these tools to the prevention and control of a number of important (for South Africa) health threats, both infectious and non-infectious. The scope will be all disease conditions including psychiatric, trauma, violence, etc in addition to the conventional inclusion of infectious diseases and diseases of lifestyle. There will be a link, too, to the concept of “implications for policy

The principles of environmental health. The mechanisms behind the relationship between environmental exposures and the development of disease states. Environmental measures to prevent and control disease, both infectious and non-infectious diseases.

A range of factors that influence health from a social, environmental and economic basis; analysis of the determinants of health problems and related behaviours, their effect on the individual, community and the broader society. Health promotion approaches, strategies and actions to address social determinants. Planning, implementation and evaluation of public health interventions to address social determinants of health

The module provides introductory learning in Health Policy and Management, in a manner suitable for new managers or those who have not had formal management training, sufficient for you to undertake basic management tasks. Whatever field of public health a graduate enters they are likely to have to undertake some management responsibilities. This module aims to provide all graduates with the foundation of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values in health policy and management that they will need.

This module introduces the learner to the history, philosophy, aims and types of research. The role of theory, specific approaches, designs and methods employed in research are explained. The module includes background to research, choosing a topic, selecting methods and prepares the learner for the process of writing a protocol.

The history and scope of public health. The importance of self-motivated deep learning as opposed to passive learning. Learning the value of group work. The use of the internet and the library to research areas of study. The writing of literature reviews and assignments. The avoidance of plagiarism. Improving English writing skills. Elements of human rights and public health ethics. Students will be given assignments involving a short literature search and applied writing practice. They will also learn how to use the internet and its information with discretion, and also how to use the UPOnline learning platforms.

This module introduces learners to thinking “epidemiologically” and the principles of epidemiology including applied epidemiology. The module introduces software for questionnaire design and data collection. Basic principles such as rates ratios and proportions are explained. Key study designs used in epidemiology (include cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, ecological, randomised control trials and sub-groups are introduced. This module introduces learners to the development and application of statistical reasoning and methods addressing, analysing, and solving problems in public health-, healthcare-, and in biomedical-, clinical- and population-based research.

This module introduces learners to the application of epidemiology and the statistical procedures and analysis of the most commonly used statistical tests in the field of biostatistics.

A formal protocol for study that is feasible and suitable for submission to the ethics and postgraduate committees for an MPH mini-dissertation project.