Knowledge, attitudes and barriers of infection control among healthcare workers in rural Uganda

Abstract

Program/Project Purpose: The Global Health program at Ben Gurion University (BGU) provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that combines theory and practical work that actually demonstrate aspects of global health and social justice. An intense, one-month, summer program was first launched last summer based on a platform of a previous full semester course. The program aims to introduce students with key concepts and theories of public health ethics, globalization and their interactions. Structure/Method/Design: Located in the Negev desert, BGU is involved in the development of Israel’s southern periphery, and its health faculty is engaged in researching the impact of geopolitics on access to health services and social determinants of health. Israel holds a unique position on the perspective of global health: It stands at the forefront of both bioscience and social medicine, maintaining a developed medical infrastructure that provides relatively generous healthcare coverage to its citizens. Nevertheless, Israel’s unique demographic and social composition introduces challenges of health disparities and social justice. These characteristics present a “living” laboratory opportunity for the study of health challenges in globalized societies. The way we found most efficient to fulfil the course aims, was the integration of a practicum into the more traditional theoretical part, where students can work with NGOs that have strong relation to questions of social justice. Outcomes & Evaluation: Following this principle teaching methods integrate frontal teaching, field trips and a practicum: In the first part student delve into the study of global health from the perspectives of public health as well as from the viewpoint of globalization theories; in the second part of the program specific topics and case studies of global health are tackled. Different ways in which global processes impact the distribution of health resources, pose new bioethical quandaries and alters our understanding of health are discussed. Integrated into those discussions are considerations of ethical, social, political and historical concerns related to global health. Field trips to diverse sites are also conducted for direct exposure to those topics, among them are immigration, Eco-health and health diplomacy. In the final part of the program, students are placed in a one-week practicum to have on-the-ground experience in issues facing the global health workforce. Evaluation by an external reviewer from BGU sociology of health department has been carried to capture changes in knowledge and strength and weaknesses of the program. Going Forward: This year graduate students from Israel, U.S., India and China participated with a variety of backgrounds: MDs, public health graduates-students, social workers and psychologists went through the program. In the coming years we aim to broaden the scope in terms of having more disciplines and countries involved. Funding: Israeli Council for Higher Education. Abstract #: 01ETC100