Public Health, Pregnancy and Parenthood

You will develop a conceptual and practical understanding of public health issues applied to the 1001 critical days. This is the time from conception to a child’s second birthday.

By exploring a range of public health issues, you will gain an understanding of how commonly encounter public health problems can be approached. You will have the opportunity to explore the social, political and policy context of maternity care and other health services in the UK.

Our lecturers are leading experts in public health related fields.

Who is it for?

This postgraduate course is for anyone interested in public health issues related to maternal and child health. Midwives, health visitors, policy makers and researchers are among those who would benefit from this course.

Timetable

Term 3

This module will run as a hybrid module.  Students will be able to attend online, in person or a combination of the two.

Apr: 30 April 2025
May: 7, 14, 21 and 28 May 2025
June: 4,11, 18 and 25 June 2025
July: 2  July 2025

Benefits

This course provides an excellent foundation for any professionals interested in pursuing a career within the public health arena related to maternal and child health.

This course is worth 15 credits toward eligible programmes.

This short course module is designed to be flexible in allowing you to study and reach your goals at your own pace. Our health CPD courses are credit-bearing modules that contribute to a University degree or award.

Transfer course credits towards postgraduate taught degree

As a health care professional, once you've completed this course you could offset 15 credits as part of a postgraduate programme, continuing your study with further modules to make up a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) 60 credits, Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) 120 credits or Master of Science (MSc) 180 credits qualification (all credits must be awarded within five years of study commencing).

This course is about exploring and discussing a wide range of public health issues related to pregnancy and parenthood.

You will build on your existing knowledge by drawing on relevant professional experience and interventions designed to improve communities’ health outcomes.

The course content includes:

- An introduction to public health, history and theory.
- Social determinants of health and health inequalities.
- A critical analysis of how to promote healthy pregnancies, childhood and parenthood.

Public health topics such as:

• Infant feeding
• Screening
• Perinatal mental health
• Maternal obesity
• Pre-conception care
• Working within systems

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• Critically evaluate how the public health agenda impacts maternity and other health services and maternal and child health outcomes.
• Utilise appropriate theories to analyse the causes of inequalities in health within and between different social groups accessing the maternity services.
• Identify and examine the social and cultural dimensions of maternal and child health.
• Critically appraise the potential impact of social, psychological and cultural variables on parenthood.
• Analyse the strengths and limitations of data used in assessing health needs.
• Make recommendations for how to improve public health, considering local health needs, priorities and resources.
• Produce a response to an emerging public health scenario in maternity care, using a structured and evidence-based approach.
• Reflect upon personal values, social attitudes and beliefs that may impact upon your professional practice.
• Develop ways of working that mitigate disadvantage, discrimination and inequalities.
• Challenge ineffective and entrenched ways of working which are not in the best interested of women or their families.

Teaching

This module is taught over 9 weeks. You will attend university for one day per week during this time. You will receive 7 weeks of teaching, with a presentation of your project on week 8 and a session to consolidate your learning in the final week.

Most of the lecturers who teach on this course have public health expertise and some still work in clinical roles.

This module will use a blended learning approach, and a range of learning activities will be used. These activities include: pre-recorded lectures, face-to-face lectures, student led activities (such as presentations), online learning, group discussions and self-directed learning. All these activities will include self-directed resources and will help you develop relevant skills and knowledge, and apply them through presenting, discussing and analysing case studies from your area of practice.

Assessment

There are two components to the assessment of this course;

• a ‘Call to Action’ 5 minute presentation related to a pregnancy or early child/parenthood public health issue.
• a 2500 word report on your ‘Call to Action’ issue.

You must achieve at least 50% to pass. This report is 100% of the mark.

This is a 15 credit elective module at master’s level and can be chosen towards any eligible programmes.

This course is provided by the School of Health & Psychological Sciences.

Credits

This course is worth 15 credits toward eligible programmes.

Non EEA students can only apply as part of a programme, not as a stand-alone module.

English requirements

If your first language is not English, one of the following is required:

• A first degree from a UK university
• A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by City, University of London as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions from Australia, Canada or the United States of America.
• International English Language Test Service (IELTS) a score of 7.0 is required with no subtest below 7.0
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) score 72 required
• TOEFL 100 overall with 24 in Writing, 20 in Listening, 19 Reading and 20 Speaking
• Other evidence of proficiency in the English language, which satisfies the board of studies concerned, including registration with your professional regulator.

Once enrolled onto the module you will receive a handbook with essential and recommended literature. Also, the tutor will suggest material during the class.