Course

Unit 1

Introduction and General Concepts in Public Health:

Definitions and concepts in Public Health, History of Public Health, Preventive Medicine: Levels of Prevention, Community Health Promotion and Health Education, Health Indicators: Measuring population health, Social and Behavioural Determinants of Health, Health Equity and Ethics

Unit 2

Unit 2 Basic concepts of Epidemiology:

Measures of health & disease in the community, Germ Theory, Epidemiological Triad, BEINGS model, Web of Causation, Epidemiological Wheel, Sources of Health Information – Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), Major disease areas: Communicable, NCDs, MCH, Geriatrics, Nutrition, Environmental Health: Pollution, Hazardous Habits, Poverty, Climate Concerns

Unit 3

Health problems and Health Policies

National Health Profile – an overview, Organization of Healthcare Delivery in India (public & private), National Health Programs (RMNCH+A, NCDs, TB, Nutrition etc.), Health Financing & Social Protection (NHM, Ayushman Bharat, etc.), Public Health Planning Process in India.Tele- health

Unit 4

Field exposure to unit 1 and preparing an action plan (Practical)

Students apply course concepts to a mini-project (individual or group-based) focused on a local public health issue. Project stages: Problem identification → Community mapping → Data collection (using digital tools) → Reflection & Report and Oral presentation.

Text Books / References

Global Reports 

1. World Health Statistics 2024. Link
2. World Development Report 2023 Link
3. World Development Indicators Link
4. Human Development Report 2025: A matter of choice: People and possibilities in the age of AI Link
5. Sustainable Development Report 2025 Link
6. Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 Link

Textbooks :

1. Holland, S. 2015. Public Health Ethics, 2nd edition. Cambridge: Polity Press. pp.1-78
2. Understanding global health, edited by W.H. Markle, M. Fisher and R. Smego, Columbus, McGraw Hill, 2007, 361 pp., including index and supplemental materials, ISBN 13: 978-0-07-148784-9; ISBN 10: 0-07-148784-03.
3. Merson MH, Black RE, Mills AJ. International public health: diseases, programs, systems, and policies, 2nd edn. Sudbury MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers 2006
4. Bhalwar RajVir (ed). Text Book of Public Health and Community Medicine, Pune: Publisher Department of Community Medicine 2009, Armed forces medical college.Pune, In collaboration with World Health Organization Indian office. New Delhi.
5. K Park, Parks text book of preventive and social medicine, 19^thedition Publisher, M/s Banarsidas Bhanot. Jabalpur

Sugested Readings:

1. Birn, A.E., Pillay, Y. & Holtz, T. (2009). Textbook of international health: Global health in a dynamic world, 3rd Ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
2. Bambra, C., Gibson, M., Sowden, A. Wright, K., Whitehead, M. Petticrew, M. (2010). Tackling the wider social determinants of health and health inequalities: Evidence from systematic reviews. J Epidemiol Community Health, 64:4 284-291.
3. Braveman Paula. Social conditions, health equity, and human rights. Health and human rights. 2010 15;12(2):31-48.
4. Cash, R., & Patel, V. (2020). Has COVID-19 subverted global health?. Lancet (London, England).
5. Di Cesare et al., Inequalities in non-communicable diseases and effective responses, The Lancet, Vol 381 (9866), 2013Gruskin, S. (2006). Rights-based approaches to health: something for everyone. Health and Human Rights, 9(2), 5-9.
6. Kruk, M. E., Larson, E., & Twum-Danso, N. A. (2016). Time for a quality revolution in global health. The Lancet Global health, 4(9), e594-e596.
7. Kruk, M. E., Gage, A. D., Arsenault, C., Jordan, K., Leslie, H. H., Roder-DeWan, S., … & English, M. (2018). High-quality health systems in the Sustainable Development Goals era: time for a revolution. The Lancet Global Health, 6(11), e1196-e1252.
8. McKee, M., Sim, F., & Pomerleau, J. (2011). The emergence of public health and the centrality of values. Issues in Public Health. 3, 37-41.
9. Pang, T., & Guindon, G. E. (2004). Globalization and risks to health. EMBO reports, 5(S1), S11-S16.
10. SURE Rapid Response: How can the sustainability of a public health (food fortification) program be ensured?
11. Wade, R. H. (2004). Is globalization reducing poverty and inequality?. International journal of health services, 34(3), 381-414.

Public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through organized efforts and informed choices. As future social workers, understanding public health equips students with the knowledge and skills to work at the intersection of people, policies, and prevention. This course provides a foundational understanding of public health from a social work perspective. It introduces students to key concepts such as disease prevention, health promotion, nutrition, sanitation, and the social determinants of health. Emphasis is placed on the Indian public health system, health communication, and the critical role social workers play in promoting community well-being. Through case-based discussions, reflective tasks, and basic health education tools, the course prepares students to engage with health challenges in diverse communities.

Pre-requisite: Interest in public health domain

Course Objectives

1. Introduce key concepts, history, principles, and determinants of Public Health, including health equity, health ethics, and preventive approaches.
2. Develop an understanding of basic epidemiological concepts, models of disease causation, major disease categories, and sources of health information.
3. Familiarize students with India’s health system, national health programmes, health financing mechanisms, and public health planning processes.
4. Enable students to apply public health concepts in real-life contexts through community mapping, data collection, and a structured mini-project.

Course Outcomes:

• CO1: Explain the foundational concepts of Public Health, including preventive medicine, health indicators, behavioural determinants, and health equity.
• CO2: Describe and apply basic epidemiological concepts and models (Germ Theory, Triad, BEINGS, Web of Causation, Epidemiologic Wheel) to understand disease occurrence.
• CO3: Analyze major communicable and non-communicable diseases and describe environmental, nutritional, maternal-child, geriatric, and lifestyle-related health issues.
• CO4: Evaluate India’s healthcare delivery system, national health programmes, health financing schemes, and public health policies.
• CO5: Apply course concepts to a local public health issue by conducting community mapping, collecting and analyzing data using digital tools, and presenting a structured action plan.

CO-PO Mappings