Course content

The course provides an introduction to the measurement and causes of inequality in health. The course aims to go beyond a purely descriptive understanding of inequality and health and also aims to evaluate how public health interventions and policy affect inequalities. The course has a strong quantitative focus but also discusses ethical aspects around inequalities in health.

The course is divided into four parts:
(1) Basic methods
(2) Determinants of health inequalities and health disparities
(3) Income inequalities and their effects on health
(4) Inequality and economic evaluations (cost-effectiveness analysis).

After the course

Students in from the medical science are enabled to critically and systematically evaluate issues on inequality which constitute the basis of many public health policies. Students learn frameworks and quantitative methods to assess the fundamental causes of inequalities in health and judge the most recent relevant literature. The learned skills are important in the field of policy advisory, research, and governmental work. Given the policy relevance of understanding causes and consequences of inequality in relation to health, the course is valuable for individuals working in public health service and consulting outside academia.

Course syllabus (in english): https://kursplaner.lu.se/pdf/kurs/en/VMFN45

Se kursplan på svenska via länken nedan.