Governing health equality: policy, interventions and evaluations

The course focuses on the role of public health governance for the achievement of health equality and equity.Theoretical models and practical perspectives are highlighted and specific emphasis will be put on how theoretical knowledge can be translated into action. Students will have the opportunity to put into practice frameworks, techniques and methods for promoting a positive health development. In addition, they will study what role the constitution of institutions, policy and different forms of interventions can have for the ability to achieve health equality and equity.The focus of the first module is on the significance of ideologies, political and power structures for a societies organisation and dynamic.This module addresses such ideological points of departure and organisational models that characterise how public health issues are understood and handled. It will further address different ways of understanding the distribution of power as well as how it affects the possibilities for achieving health equality and equity. The second module looks at how policy is created, decided and applied, including how focus and prioritization are determined, how advocacy work is done and what role different actors play. It will also discuss how decisions are made taking into account the political and legal context, as well as what role ethics, evidence and norms (e.g. how different population groups are perceived) can have in a decision making process. The third module, finally, will deepen the students understanding of how interventions can be directed towards different levels of society (structures, communities, individuals) as well as towards different phases of health development, e.g. to promote health as an alternative to prevent disease deterioration.In addition, methods commonly used within public health planning, implementation and evaluation will be taught, critically discussed and practised.