THE UNIVERSITY OF BAROTSELAND

SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Department of Public Health

Bachelor of Science
in
Public Health
 PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
• The World Health Organization (WHO)
defines Public Health as all organized
measures (whether public or private) to
prevent disease, promote health and prolong
life among the population as a whole
• Public health addresses health at the
population level

• Public health is concerned with the total health

system and not only the eradication of a
particular disease.
 The three core functions of PH
• The assessment and monitoring of the health
of communities and populations at risk to
identify health problems and priorities

• The formulation of public policies designed to

solve identified local and national health
problems and priorities.
• To assure that all populations have access to
appropriate and cost-effective care, including
health promotion and disease prevention
services.
 Aims and learning outcomes
of the BSc PH
• To equip the students with knowledge and skills
in all the three main areas of public health
• To expose students to general principles of public
health, global health and national public health
priorities and how to deal with them.
• To expose students to various aspects of public
health at local, national and international levels
• To train and produce public health
practitioners rather than academicians
• places emphasis on understanding and
addressing key determinants of health and on
understanding the health systems approach to
public health
• emphasizes the concepts of evidence based
medicine and implementation research
• The course curriculum has been developed
with the Zambian public health context and
priorities in mind while at the same time
providing students full exposure to
international public health.
 Programme Progression Regulations
The pass mark for a subject is 50%.
Grade Performance Mark Class

Distinction Outstanding 95 and above A+

Distinction Excellent 85 – 94 A

Merit Above Average 75 – 84 B+

Credit Average 65 – 74 B

Definite Pass Very Satisfactory 55 – 64 C+

Bare Pass Satisfactory 50 – 54 C

Bare Fail Marginal 40 – 49 D+

Clear Fail Below Average Below 39 D

PUH 211 GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC
HEALTH

COURSE OVERVIEW
 Course Aim

To introduce students to the basic concepts of

public health theory and practice; including
history of public health, basic definitions in
public health and the ten essential services of
public health.
 Course Objectives

By the end of the course students should be able

to:-
• Understand the basic concepts and definitions
in public health
• Understand the nature and scope of public
health
• Understand the Core functions of public
health
• Understand and apply the ten Essential
Services and Operations of Public Health to
deal with public health challenges
• Understand the three main areas of health
service delivery
 Method of Delivery

Three lectures and one tutorial per week

 Method of Assessment

• Continuous Assessment - 40%

• Final Examination - 60%
 Prescribed Books
Scutchfield, F.D. and Keck W. (2009). Principles of Public Health Practice, 3rd
Edition [Hardcover].

Schneider, Mary-Jane (2013). Introduction To Public Health [Paperback], 4th Edition

Wallace/Maxcy-Rosenau-Last (2008). Public Health & Preventive Medicine, 15th

edition

Gidey, G., Taju, S. and Hagos, A. (2005). Introduction to Public Health.

Andresen Elena and Bouldin Erin DeFries (2010). Public Health Foundations:
Concepts and Practices

Wilson Francis and Mabhala Mzwandile(2009). Key Concepts in Public Health

 Recommended Readings

WHO(2008). The World Health Report 2008 - primary Health Care (Now
More Than Ever)
http://www.who.int/topics/primary_health_care/en/

WHO (1978): The declaration of Alma Ata.

http://www.who.int/topics/primary_health_care/en/

Freely Available Online materials

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_Essential_Public_Health_Services

http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Health-systems/public-health-se
rvices/policy/the-10-essential-public-health-operations