Our Subject

We teach subjects in gender, health equity and research methods as part of the Masters of Public Health (MPH) Course.

In 2023, we are delivering the following subjects:

Gender and Health (MPH)
Women and Global Health (MPH)
Community Engagement for Health Impact (MPH)
Preventing Violence Against Women (MPH)

Gender and Health

This subject introduces sex/gender as a social construct that influences health. In the course, students are encouraged to reflect on different perspectives of gender, sexuality and health using biological, sociological, and cultural paradigms. We will compare and contrast the health of men and women and critically analyse the explanations that have been offered for both the differences and similarities. Case studies will be used to illustrate the contemporary ways in which practices of health care are gendered and the consequences for health (e.g. mental health care, responses to violence). We will also analyse the ways in which public health programs are gendered and the consequences for health (e.g. screening programs, sexual and reproductive health programs etc). Finally, we will analyse the health consequences of gender relations in day-to-day life (e.g. at work, at home, with family).

At the completion of this subject, students should be able to demonstrate the ability to:

Understand the social construction of sex/gender
Provide multiple perspectives of the ways that gender and health are related
Apply the theories of gender to health problems
Apply a ‘gender lens’ to health promotion and public and social policy.

Course coordinator
Dr Meghan Bohren
meghan.bohren@unimelb.edu.au

Women and Global Health

Developing and newly-industrialised countries experience wide variation in terms of history, politics, demographic transition, development and epidemiology. This subject situates women and their health in a dynamic context of development, globalisation and change. It examines key health issues, primarily for women in the Asian and Pacific Regions, but also in other international contexts, and explores factors that impact on health and illness throughout the lifespan. Gender, rights and ‘empowerment’ provide frameworks for analysis.

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

Describe the most important health issues for women globally
Discuss how social determinants of health in a local context interact with global structures and transitions to shape women’s health
Use a gender analysis framework to analyse a country-specific intervention developed in response to a particular health issue

Course coordinator
Dr Meghan Bohren
meghan.bohren@unimelb.edu.au

Community Engagement for Health Impact

There is increasing global recognition that research and interventions seeking to change the social determinants of health are most impactful when communities are actively engaged in the process. Therefore, many health researchers are looking towards participatory approaches to the co-production of knowledge and health practitioners are increasingly aiming to co-design health interventions with communities, patients or service end-users. This subject will give students an understanding of, and experience in, the principles, processes and some of the methods used in participatory health research. It will illustrate the ways these principles, processes and methods can be applied to the co-design of health interventions, to support patient-public involvement in health, and to user led health research. This subject will be of interest to students wanting to build the necessary skills to support communities to deepen their understanding of their own circumstances, to engage communities in taking action to help resolve conditions undermining health, and to ensure that community engagement maximises positive health impacts. As part of this subject, students will be expected to participate in (a) practical exercises designed to enhance skills and techniques; and (b) workshopping, analysis and reflection of data collected during an in-class research project.

On completion of this subject, students should:

Describe principles, processes and methods used to engage communities in health research and in the design and delivery of health services and interventions
Demonstrate specific social science research methods and techniques used in participatory health research
Apply the principles and processes of participatory health research to the co-design of health interventions with communities
Identify the advantages and limitations of a variety of social science research methods community used in participatory health research and co-design processes
Critically reflect on the benefits, limitations, challenges and ethical issues associated with community engagement for health
Demonstrate problem solving skills to deal with practical issues that arise in the conduct of participatory health research and when engaging with communities
Demonstrate self-reflection when employing methods and processes used in participatory health research and co-design

Course coordinator
Dr Meghan Bohren
meghan.bohren@unimelb.edu.au

Preventing Violence Against Women

Violence against women is a major public health and human rights issue and is highly prevalent globally. Prevention of violence against women is an important policy priority for governments around the world, as demonstrated through its specific inclusion in Sustainable Development Goals targets and increasing commitments to evidence-based prevention interventions. Students in this subject will engage with evidence about the impact of violence against women; the causes of and contributors to violence against women; theories of social change; and prevention science and frameworks. Students will be introduced to the principles underpinning intersectional analysis and the co-design of interventions, and the particular ethical and safety issues that arise when conducting research and evaluation in relation to violence against women and its prevention. This subject will be of value to students from public health as well as from many other sectors working towards the prevention of violence against women.

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

Describe the different type of violence that diverse women and girls may experience over the life course
Identify the strengths and limitations of different sources of data on violence against women; gaps in the current state of knowledge; and the particular ethical and safety issues that arise when conducting research on gender-based violence
Describe the drivers and reinforcing factors of violence against women
Demonstrate how theories of social change and prevention frameworks can be applied to the design of interventions designed to prevent violence against women
Critically appraise the evidence underpinning current efforts to prevent violence against women

Course coordinator
Dr Meghan Bohren
meghan.bohren@unimelb.edu.au