Introduction to Modern South Asia: Public Health From Theory to Practice

Catalog description

This course introduces students to public health in South Asia (including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka) through a health equity approach. We will examine the history, theories, and interventions that shape health care systems in South Asia in three ways. First, students will learn about fundamental historical shifts in public health from the British Raj before 1947, Nation-building between 1947 and 1971, and the present time in health care and policy in South Asia. Second, students will be introduced to structural and social determinants of health (e.g., race and ethnicity, caste, gender, socioeconomic position, sexual orientation) using an interdisciplinary approach rooted in global health theories. Finally, through case studies, we will examine health policies and initiatives across the South Asian region and critically delve into ethical dimensions, behavioral health, and sustainability.