PHCA9505 Primary Health Care Practice in Developing Countries

The focus of the topic will be on primary health care in developing countries. By the end of the topic students should:

• Understand the patterns of health and disease in developing countries and the political, economic, social and environmental factors that influence them
• Appreciate the accomplishments and failures of the western medical model in the third world
• Obtain a thorough understanding of comprehensive primary health care
• Understand the implementation of primary health care strategies in developing countries over the past two decades and the factors facilitating and constraining them

This topic also provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of planning and managing externally funded health interventions in developing countries. Whilst providing an overview of the roles of all stakeholders, this topic will focus on the centrality of external aid donors and actors and their significant influence of the international health and development policy discourse and practice

This topic aims to:

• Develop an understanding of the relationship between development and health
• Develop a critical understanding of barriers and enablers to the implementation of a comprehensive Primary Health Care approach in developing countries
• Enhance the capabilities and skills necessary to critically appraise and apply project planning and design tools for the international and health development context

1. Access and interpret epidemiological data from specific developing countries
2. Critically describe the ways in which health and development are related
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the Primary Health Care (PHC) approach, and its role and relevance within developing countries
4. Analyse the differences between a selective and comprehensive approach to PHC
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the political and institutional context of global health funding and the policy environment
6. Apply the concepts of project cycle management to IHD project design