Global Adolescent Health

À propos de ce cours

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

Cours en ligne à 100 %

Commencez dès maintenant et apprenez aux horaires qui vous conviennent.

Niveau débutant

Approx. 22 hours to complete

Recommandé : 6-8 weeks of study, 3-4 hours/week

English

Sous-titres : English

Cours en ligne à 100 %

Commencez dès maintenant et apprenez aux horaires qui vous conviennent.

Niveau débutant

Approx. 22 hours to complete

Recommandé : 6-8 weeks of study, 3-4 hours/week

English

Sous-titres : English

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

1

Section

5 hours to complete

Week 1 - Introduction to adolescent health: developmental and ecological perspectives (Part I)

Welcome! Before getting started on this week’s content, be sure to review the materials under the ‘Introduction’ section below to help you get the most out of this course, whatever your learning goals may be. This week we set the scene for adolescent health as a critical area of human health and development. We introduce the conceptual framework used throughout the course, which will assist greatly in building your learning across each week of material. We discuss different definitions of adolescence and young adulthood, and explore how the biological and social transitions associated with this period of life- and our understanding of them- have changed over time....

14 videos (Total 111 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

14 videos

Welcome from Susan and George3m

Week 1-2 Briefing with Susan Sawyer5m

1.1 Introduction: why adolescent health?7m

1.2 A conceptual framework for adolescent health14m

1.3 Definitions of adolescence9m

1.4 The changing shape of adolescence8m

1.5 Puberty and adolescent growth6m

1.6 Growth including brain development in adolescence7m

1.7 Puberty and health: part I3m

1.8 Puberty and health: part II7m

1.9 Role transitions: marriage and parenthood7m

1.10 Role transitions: contraceptives and condom use5m

1.11 Role transitions: education and employment7m

Interview with Dr Judith Diers (USA) 16m

5 readings

Course overview15m

What to expect10m

Your teaching team5m

Week 1 outline & key readings0m

Start of course survey10m

1 practice exercises

Week one quiz (10% of your final grade)14m

2

Section

4 hours to complete

Week 2 - Introduction to adolescent health: developmental and ecological perspectives (Part II)

This week we return to our conceptual framework and unpack the key concepts of social determinants of health and risk and protective factors. We explore what these terms mean and how they influence and shape adolescent health and development. We also begin to apply this knowledge at a practical level in terms of the interventions and actions we can take to improve or maintain health and wellbeing during the adolescent and young adult years, or prevent problems from happening in the first place....

13 videos (Total 155 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

13 videos

2.1 Revisiting the framework6m

2.2 Risk and protective factors: concepts9m

2.3 Risk and protective factors: implementation11m

2.4 Risk and protective factors: peer relationships6m

2.5 Risk and protective factors: families, education and communities8m

2.6 Social determinants of adolescent health: economic factors8m

2.7 Social determinants of adolescent health: human rights and gender13m

2.8 Social determinants of adolescent health: population displacement8m

2.9 Social determinants of adolescent health: advertising and marketing9m

2.10 Socially disadvantaged adolescents5m

Interview with Prof Craig Jeffrey (UK/Aus) 22m

Interview with Prof Rima Afifi (Lebanon/USA) 22m

Interview with Baroness Susan Greenfield (UK) 21m

1 readings

Week 2 outline & key readings0m

1 practice exercises

Week two quiz (10% of your final grade)14m

3

Section

7 hours to complete

Week 3 - Major health problems of adolescents (Part I)

This week we explore our conceptual framework for adolescent health as it relates to health-related behaviours and states and health outcomes. By that we mean, how do the biological, social, economic and other influences that we have discussed so far play out in terms of adolescent health outcomes (e.g. death and disability) and behaviours (e.g. those relating to sexual activity or substance use)? What are the major health issues affecting young people around the world today, and how does this differ by region, gender and other variables? We will explore the latter question over the course of this week and next, with the focus this week predominantly on sexual and reproductive health and mental health. ...

18 videos (Total 151 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

18 videos

Week 3-4 Briefing with George Patton4m

3.1 Adolescent mortality around the world7m

3.2 Adolescent mortality: causes of death3m

3.3 Adolescent disease burden6m

3.4 Adolescent mortality and disease burden: health actions4m

3.5 Sexual, reproductive and maternal health: an overview13m

3.6 Sexual, reproductive and maternal health: HIV and STIs7m

3.7 Sexual, reproductive and maternal health: SRH risks8m

3.8 Sexual, reproductive and maternal health: clinical and policy approaches9m

3.9 Adolescent mental health: an introduction5m

3.10 Mental health and substance abuse: a global picture7m

3.11 What happens to mental health problems?4m

3.12 Assessing and responding to mental health problems7m

3.13 Alcohol and illicit drugs5m

3.14 Mental health: responding to a young person4m

Interview with Dr Susan Kasedde (USA) 22m

Interview with Prof Vikram Patel (India / UK) 15m

Interview with Sarah Soysa (Sri Lanka) 12m

2 readings

Week 3 outline & key readings0m

Academic integrity10m

4

Section

3 hours to complete

Week 4 - Major health problems of adolescents (Part II)

This week continues last week's focus on the 'health-related behaviours and states' and 'health outcomes' components of our conceptual framework. We will discuss some of the other major health topics and issues affecting adolescents and young adults around the world today, including infectious diseases, chronic illness and disability, nutrition, physical activity and obesity. We will also highlight injury as a leading cause of death and major cause of disability in young people, and build on last week's discussion of sexual, reproductive and mental health. ...

9 videos (Total 130 min), 1 reading

9 videos

4.1 Infectious diseases13m

4.2 Chronic illness and disability25m

4.3 Nutrition: micronutrient deficiency14m

4.4 Nutrition: macronutrients12m

4.5 Nutrition: health implications of under-nutrition12m

4.6 Nutrition: health implications of over-nutrition13m

4.7 Physical activity and inactivity12m

4.8 Injury risks11m

Interview with Prof Zulfiqar Bhutta (Canada / Pakistan)11m

1 readings

Week 4 outline & key readings0m

5

Section

3 hours to complete

Week 5 - Adolescent health policy, programming and intervention (Part I)

This week we set the scene for understanding the policy and practice context of adolescent health and development through reviewing the functions of family and family policy, the value of education as a resource for health, and the wider influences of peers, advertising and marketing, taxation, legislation and social media in shaping adolescent behaviours....

11 videos (Total 99 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

11 videos

Week 5-6 Briefing with Susan Sawyer6m

5.1 Family matters10m

5.2 Families, policy and adolescent health12m

5.3 Education: health actions through education5m

5.4 Education: intervening in school curriculum2m

5.5 Education: whole school intervention4m

5.6 Peer influences11m

5.7 Legislation10m

5.8 Taxation11m

5.9 Advertising, marketing and social media12m

Interview with Yeeli Mui (USA) 11m

1 readings

Week 5 outline & key readings0m

1 practice exercises

Week five quiz (10% of your final grade)12m

6

Section

4 hours to complete

Week 6 - Adolescent health policy, programming and intervention (Part II)

This week we continue our exploration of the policy and practice context of adolescent health and development by focusing on the role of health services in responding to the burden of disease experienced by young people. We discuss the elements of quality healthcare for young people and what adolescent-friendly health care means at an individual practitioner and service level. We also highlight the challenge of monitoring and communicating the health status of adolescents at a national and global level, why nations need to be held to account for investing in appropriate actions that promote the health of their young people, and how to promote positive and meaningful youth participation. As this marks the final week of learning material for this course (Weeks 7 and 8 are devoted to the completion and evaluation of Assignment 2 for those interested), we also discuss learning and networking opportunities beyond GAH for those of you who would like to continue this journey....

12 videos (Total 155 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

12 videos

6.1 Health services for adolescents: mind the gap!11m

6.2 Health services: setting expectations8m

6.3 Health services: clinical attitudes, knowledge and skills14m

6.4 Making health services adolescent friendly10m

6.5 Health services: platforms for healthcare delivery11m

6.6 Bringing it all together: an accountability framework5m

6.7 Bringing it all together: the role of young people6m

6.8 Learning beyond GAH4m

Interview with Prof Harish Pemde (India) 28m

Interview with A/Prof Fadia AlBuhairan (Saudi Arabia) 16m

Interview with Kikelomo Taiwo (USA/Nigeria) 16m

Interview with Dakshita Wickremarathne (Sri Lanka) 19m

2 readings

Week 6 outline & key readings0m

End of Course Survey10m

1 practice exercises

Week six quiz (10% of your final grade)12m

7

Section

2 hours to complete

Weeks 7 - 8 (no new content)

Weeks 7 and 8 do not feature any new course material and are for the development, submission and peer marking of the second written assignment for those wishing to do so. Please be sure to review the intro video below for some important information before getting started. We would also greatly appreciate your feedback on this course via the end of course survey below if you have not already done so- it is so critical for us in our efforts to ensure we are providing our students with the best experience possible. Thank you!...

1 video (Total 4 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

1 videos

Week 7-8 Briefing with George Patton3m

1 readings

End of course survey10m

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I pay for this course?
If you pay for this course, you will have access to all of the features and content you need to earn a Course Certificate. If you complete the course successfully, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. Note that the Course Certificate does not represent official academic credit from the partner institution offering the course.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
Yes! Coursera provides financial aid to learners who would like to complete a course but cannot afford the course fee. To apply for aid, select "Learn more and apply" in the Financial Aid section below the "Enroll" button. You'll be prompted to complete a simple application; no other paperwork is required.
What resources will I need to complete this course?
For this course, all you need is an internet connection and the time to read, write and discuss the health and wellbeing of young people and the exciting new developments in this field of global health.
Do I earn University of Melbourne credits upon completion of this course?
No. The Course Certificate is not part of a formal qualification from the University. However, it may be useful to demonstrate prior learning and interest in youth health to a higher education institution or potential employer.
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.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center

Global Adolescent Health