Over 43 million persons are currently living under conditions of forced displacement.  These persons are among the world’s most vulnerable, with high rates of communicable and non-communicable disease, reproductive mortality, nutritional deficits, and psychological illness. This course provides an overview of the health needs of refugees, critically analysing from social, cultural and political perspectives the reasons for, and potential solutions, to poor health among displaced and resettled populations. Key areas to be addressed include the resources and capabilities of refugees, models of health service provision in temporary settlements and after resettlement, patterns of illness, and the debates about post-traumatic stress disorder. The course will consider case studies of refugees resettled from Sudan, Burma, Iran and Afghanistan, and will incorporate seminars from community leaders and resettlement workers. 

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

• Articulate the impacts of forced displacement on the epidemiology and experiences of illnesses among refugees along the life-course. (LO 1)
• Identify the sociocultural, biological and political determinants of  refugee health and illness in resettlement countries and countries of first refuge (LO 2)
• Critically evaluate health systems to promote refugee health in temporary and permanent settlements (LO 3)

1. Seminar presentation      15%  (LO1)
2. Minor essay 2,500 words     35%  (LO2)
3. Major essay: 4,000 words    45%  (LO3)
4. Class participation             5%  (LO1-3)

3 hour seminar, with 7 hours of background reading per week.  A field visit to a resettlement organisation (health service, settlement agency) will be organised for one week.  Distance students will be supported to develop an equivalent to this field visit.

There are no pre-requisites for this course.

There are no assumed knowledge, skills or recommended courses prior to undertaking this course.

There are no prescribed texts.  Reading material will be provided

Distance students will need access to the internet.