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The Open University

Public health approaches to infectious disease

The Open University via OpenLearn

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Overview

This free course, Public health approaches to infectious disease, reviews the current global burden of infectious disease, the public health strategies that are reducing the impact of some major infections and the challenges facing national and international organisations in preventing illness and death caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 The global burden of infectious disease
  • 1 The global burden of infectious disease
  • 1.1 Acute respiratory infections
  • 1.2 Diarrhoeal diseases
  • 1.3 Tuberculosis
  • 1.4 HIV/AIDS
  • 1.5 Malaria
  • 1.6 Other infectious disease headlines
  • 2 The public health approach
  • 2 The public health approach
  • 2.1 Threats to public health from urbanisation and industrialisation
  • 2.2 Public health surveillance and response in a globalised world
  • 2.2.1 International Health Regulations: IHR (2005)
  • 2.2.2 The WHO Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network
  • 2.2.3 National surveillance agencies
  • 2.3 Public health interventions
  • 3 Levels of infectious disease prevention
  • 3 Levels of infectious disease prevention
  • 3.1 Primary prevention strategies
  • 3.2 Secondary prevention strategies
  • 3.3 Tertiary prevention strategies
  • 3.4 Combining prevention levels to promote public health
  • 4 Public health successes in controlling infectious disease
  • 4 Public health successes in controlling infectious disease
  • 4.1 Vaccination revisited
  • 4.1.1 The eradication of smallpox
  • 4.1.2 The campaign to eradicate polio
  • 4.2 The importance of hygiene
  • 4.2.1 Hand washing with soap
  • 4.2.2 Institutional hygiene and healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs)
  • 4.3 Community action against infectious diseases
  • 4.3.1 Oral rehydration salts
  • 5 The guinea worm eradication campaign
  • 5 The guinea worm eradication campaign
  • 5.1 The human cost of guinea worm disease
  • 5.2 Falling trends in guinea worm disease
  • 5.3 The guinea worm transmission cycle
  • 5.4 Eradication through community action
  • 5.4.1 Protection of water sources
  • 5.4.2 Community participation in the eradication programme
  • 5.4.3 Surveillance and case mapping
  • 5.4.4 Other interventions to support guinea worm eradication
  • 5.4.5 A final thought about dracunculiasis eradication
  • 6 The Millennium Development Goals, infectious disease and public health
  • 6 The Millennium Development Goals, infectious disease and public health
  • 6.1 The persistent effects of poverty on health
  • 6.2 Other challenges to achieving the MDGs for public health
  • Conclusion
  • Questions for the course
  • Glossary
  • References
  • Acknowledgements

Tags

Reviews

4.3 rating, based on 7 Class Central reviews

4.9 rating at OpenLearn based on 33 ratings

Start your review of Public health approaches to infectious disease

  • Profile image for Abdul Qayoom
    Abdul Qayoom @abdulqayoomshar
    Public Health Approaches to Infectious Disease" is an engaging and well-structured course, perfect for anyone interested in understanding how public health tackles infectious diseases. It covers essential topics like disease transmission, outbreak response, and prevention strategies, with real-world examples that make the content highly relevant.

    The course stands out with practical insights, case studies, and interactive assessments. I appreciated the focus on key public health strategies such as vaccination, contact tracing, and community education. It also highlights the importance of addressing health equity when planning interventions.
  • Profile image for Katie Wiest
    Katie Wiest @katiewiest
    The course provided good information on approaches to infectious disease. However, the course wasn't super interactive and had some sections just as dense text. There is also no discussion portion for this course.
  • Profile image for Aanya Puri
    Aanya Puri
    It was an elaborate and informative course, focusing on preventives, case study and information regarding various diseases. The case study was engaging yet self-explanatory for the course. It definitely was a great experience learning.
  • Profile image for BHAVI PATEL
    BHAVI PATEL
    The course was interactive but you can add many other details into it for more information. The course was structured so well and it was a good experience here.
  • Mr. Mike Banda
    Great course. Wide coverage but compressed for easy walk through. Theory is clearly aligned with reality of life.
    Good one!
  • Siraj Salma
    A very educative and well-structured course detailed and engaging. I have learnt so much more than I would have anywhere else. The flexibility of the course makes it so much easier to follow and study.
  • Misty Twyman
    This course had a lot of good information. Great layout throughout the course. It may need to be a little more health literate friendly.
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