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Global Adolescent Health

Approx. 29 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course focuses on the health and well-being of young people, covering various aspects such as sexual health, mental health, and substance abuse. The course also emphasizes the importance of community involvement in promoting youth health.

Key Learning Points

Learn about the key health issues that affect young people today
Understand the importance of community involvement in promoting youth health
Gain insights into effective strategies for promoting youth health

Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have

Youth Health Educator
- USA: $45,000 - $70,000
- India: INR 4,00,000 - INR 6,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €45,000
Youth Mental Health Counselor
- USA: $40,000 - $70,000
- India: INR 3,00,000 - INR 6,00,000
- Spain: €25,000 - €45,000
Youth Substance Abuse Counselor
- USA: $35,000 - $60,000
- India: INR 3,00,000 - INR 5,00,000
- Spain: €25,000 - €40,000

Learning Outcomes

Understand the key health issues that affect young people today
Learn effective strategies for promoting youth health
Gain insights into the importance of community involvement in promoting youth health

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic knowledge of health and wellness
Interest in promoting youth health

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online
Self-paced

Similar Courses

Youth Mental Health and Wellness
Promoting Healthy Habits for Youth

Related Education Paths

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Description

This course will explore the dynamic factors affecting the health and wellbeing of young people around the world, and how important it is for individuals, communities and nations that we improve the health and life chances of this important population group.

With over 25% of the world’s population aged between 10 and 24 years, today’s generation of young people is the largest in human history. As the future leaders and drivers of growth, productivity and innovation, young people are our greatest assets, and investment in their health and wellbeing has social, economic and other benefits that continue across the lifespan and into the next generation. In this course we will adopt a life-course framework to take a holistic view of youth health and wellbeing. We will explore changing patterns of adolescent health and development, including why adolescence is starting earlier and ending later; how puberty and adolescent brain development may shape future health; and how what happens in adolescence can affect the start to life for the next generation. We’ll also look at the major health and social issues affecting young people and ways of addressing these through policy, practice and programming. COURSE FORMAT: This course comprises short video lectures and interviews, required and recommended readings, online discussion, quizzes and written assignments. There is no required text for this course and all readings are provided. DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS COURSE? No- you may access 100% of material in this course for free. You are also welcome to do as much or as little of the course as you like, including all (or none!) of the assessment tasks- it all depends on your learning goals. The option to pay for this course is there for those who wish to receive a Course Certificate as evidence of completion (which does require you to attempt and successfully pass the assessment tasks). WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR? This course will be relevant for anyone with an interest in the health and wellbeing of young people. You do not need to be of any particular personal or professional background to benefit from this course, but having some basic undergraduate study experience will be helpful to your learning (particularly if in a health related field). WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING I'LL LEARN IF I TAKE THIS COURSE? You’ll learn how so much of what happens during adolescence can impact not only the future health of individuals, but the health of the next generation as well. You’ll develop a greater understanding of the key factors impacting upon youth health and learn how to be a better advocate for the health and wellbeing of young people. View the MOOC promotional video here: http://tinyurl.com/z5l4mod

Outline

Week 1 - Introduction to adolescent health: developmental and ecological perspectives (Part I)
Welcome from Susan and George
Week 1-2 Briefing with Susan Sawyer
1.1 Introduction: why adolescent health?
1.2 A conceptual framework for adolescent health
1.3 Definitions of adolescence
1.4 The changing shape of adolescence
1.5 Puberty and adolescent growth
1.6 Growth including brain development in adolescence
1.7 Puberty and health: part I
1.8 Puberty and health: part II
1.9 Role transitions: marriage and parenthood
1.10 Role transitions: contraceptives and condom use
1.11 Role transitions: education and employment
Interview with Dr Judith Diers (USA)
Course overview
What to expect
Your teaching team
Week 1 outline & key readings
Start of course survey
Week one quiz (10% of your final grade)

Week 2 - Introduction to adolescent health: developmental and ecological perspectives (Part II)
2.1 Revisiting the framework
2.2 Risk and protective factors: concepts
2.3 Risk and protective factors: implementation
2.4 Risk and protective factors: peer relationships
2.5 Risk and protective factors: families, education and communities
2.6 Social determinants of adolescent health: economic factors
2.7 Social determinants of adolescent health: human rights and gender
2.8 Social determinants of adolescent health: population displacement
2.9 Social determinants of adolescent health: advertising and marketing
2.10 Socially disadvantaged adolescents
Interview with Prof Craig Jeffrey (UK/Aus)
Interview with Prof Rima Afifi (Lebanon/USA)
Interview with Baroness Susan Greenfield (UK)
Week 2 outline & key readings
Week two quiz (10% of your final grade)

Week 3 - Major health problems of adolescents (Part I)
Week 3-4 Briefing with George Patton
3.1 Adolescent mortality around the world
3.2 Adolescent mortality: causes of death
3.3 Adolescent disease burden
3.4 Adolescent mortality and disease burden: health actions
3.5 Sexual, reproductive and maternal health: an overview
3.6 Sexual, reproductive and maternal health: HIV and STIs
3.7 Sexual, reproductive and maternal health: SRH risks
3.8 Sexual, reproductive and maternal health: clinical and policy approaches
3.9 Adolescent mental health: an introduction
3.10 Mental health and substance abuse: a global picture
3.11 What happens to mental health problems?
3.12 Assessing and responding to mental health problems
3.13 Alcohol and illicit drugs
3.14 Mental health: responding to a young person
Interview with Dr Susan Kasedde (USA)
Interview with Prof Vikram Patel (India / UK)
Interview with Sarah Soysa (Sri Lanka)
Week 3 outline & key readings
Academic integrity

Week 4 - Major health problems of adolescents (Part II)
4.1 Infectious diseases
4.2 Chronic illness and disability
4.3 Nutrition: micronutrient deficiency
4.4 Nutrition: macronutrients
4.5 Nutrition: health implications of under-nutrition
4.6 Nutrition: health implications of over-nutrition
4.7 Physical activity and inactivity
4.8 Injury risks
Interview with Prof Zulfiqar Bhutta (Canada / Pakistan)
Week 4 outline & key readings

Week 5 - Adolescent health policy, programming and intervention (Part I)
Week 5-6 Briefing with Susan Sawyer
5.1 Family matters
5.2 Families, policy and adolescent health
5.3 Education: health actions through education
5.4 Education: intervening in school curriculum
5.5 Education: whole school intervention
5.6 Peer influences
5.7 Legislation
5.8 Taxation
5.9 Advertising, marketing and social media
Interview with Yeeli Mui (USA)
Week 5 outline & key readings
Week five quiz (10% of your final grade)

Week 6 - Adolescent health policy, programming and intervention (Part II)
6.1 Health services for adolescents: mind the gap!
6.2 Health services: setting expectations
6.3 Health services: clinical attitudes, knowledge and skills
6.4 Making health services adolescent friendly
6.5 Health services: platforms for healthcare delivery
6.6 Bringing it all together: an accountability framework
6.7 Bringing it all together: the role of young people
6.8 Learning beyond GAH
Interview with Prof Harish Pemde (India)
Interview with A/Prof Fadia AlBuhairan (Saudi Arabia)
Interview with Kikelomo Taiwo (USA/Nigeria)
Interview with Dakshita Wickremarathne (Sri Lanka)
Week 6 outline & key readings
End of Course Survey
Week six quiz (10% of your final grade)

Weeks 7 - 8 (no new content)
Week 7-8 Briefing with George Patton
End of course survey

Summary of User Reviews

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The course content is relevant and up-to-date

Pros from User Reviews

Excellent course material
Expert instructors
Engaging assignments
Interactive discussions
Great insights into youth health

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the course to be challenging
Lack of one-on-one interaction with instructors
Limited feedback on assignments

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