4077.0: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 8:52 AM

Abstract #31627

Changes in Health and Health Care in Post-apartheid South Africa

Sally J Guttmacher, PhD, Health Studies, New York University, 726 Broadway, 5th floor, (rm 515), New York City, NY 10003, 212 998 5616, sg2@nyu.edu

Changes in Health and Health Care in post-apartheid South Africa

This course was developed to address the issue of the impact of racism upon health. Specifically, it was designed to teach MPH students from US institutions about the impact of the previous South African apartheid policies upon health and the measures required by the new Government to address the health problems that were a result of these policies. The course is a collaborative effort between the MPH Program in NYU's Department of Health Studies and the Department of Public Health in the University of Cape Town Medical School. The four- week course is divided into four modules. Module one is focused on issues related to reproductive health care including STDs and HIV/ADS. The second module, which is entirely in the field, stresses issues related to the delivery of rural health care with a heavy concentration on how rural areas are coping with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Faculty active in the post-apartheid TRC hearings on the role of the health sector in oppression, lead the third module, on 'health and human rights'. During the final module students to work in groups on selected projects under the guidance of program faculty. Past projects have been on topics such as the implementation of the new Abortion Act, increased access to health care, measures to prevent domestic violence or the impact of HIV/AIDS. These projects frequently involve fieldwork and interviews

Learning Objectives: Examine the impact of racism on health Understand the problems in adressing the public health impact of apartheid in South Africa

Keywords: Public Health Curriculum, International Systems

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA