Global community-based public health research: Educating for social justice

Social justice is a core value and the foundation of public health.  To better prepare public health professionals for the 21^st century, in 2002 the Institute of Medicine recommended education and training in cultural competence, global health and active participation in community-based participatory research (CBPR), learning and service.  Study abroad provides an opportunity to educate public health students about social justice and community-based research methods in a global health setting.  For the past four years the Michigan State University Program in Public Health has offered Public Health in Ghana:  Methods for Community Practice, a unique study abroad program that allows students to examine global health from an anthropological perspective using a social justice framework while conducting CBPR in a small rural community in Ghana.  The program is the result of a collaborative academic partnership between the MSU Program in Public Health and MountCrest University College in Larteh, Ghana.

A social justice approach to public health requires addressing the social determinants of health to reduce health inequities.  This approach:

• Acknowledges social justice as the foundation of public health
• Analyzes/addresses the determinants of health
• Acts to reduce health inequities
• Works with and for vulnerable/marginalized populations
• Uses a community-based participatory approach
• Applies social justice and humans rights principles

Using examples, this presentation will discuss how a practicum experience abroad engages public health students in a critical dialogue about social justice while living in, and collaborating with, the community in the research process.