Section: Module 1: War and Public Health Introduction | War and Public Health | NextGenU.org

  • Instructional Goals covered in this module:
    • Recognize the basic terminology for public health issues in war and discuss the global impact of violence/conflict on the types of interventions and policy responses.
    • Examine and explain the root causes of war and conflict (e.g., social inequity and injustice) and their impact on public health.

    • Module1: Lesson 1: War and Public Health

      Student Learning Outcomes:

      Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

      • Define the key terms related to public health issues in war (morbidity and mortality, displacement, malnutrition, infectious diseases, psychological trauma, disability, civilians).
      • Describe the impact of armed conflict on the delivery of public health programs and interventions.
      • Explain how conflict affects public health policy responses.
      • Discuss the consequences of war on economic activities and the distribution of resources.
      • Discuss how violence and conflict can reduce the availability of resources and how this can impact people and communities.
      • Identify and examine the public health issues that have arisen as a result of past wars.
      • Discuss how war has impacted public health and health systems throughout history.

      Approximate time required for the readings for this lesson (at 144 words/minute): 5 hours and 10 minutes.

      Required Learning Resources and Activities
    • url icon
      Epidemiology Morbidity And Mortality URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the content under the topics "Definition/ Introduction". (6 minutes)

      StatPearls - 2022

    • url icon
      War and Public Health URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the content under the chapter "Consequences of War" from pages 23 to 83. (2 hours 15 minutes)

      To access this book, you must follow the instructions provided on this link.

      Take into account that at some point, some of the copies are not available and are in use. During this time, you will not be able to access a copy of the War and Public Health text. If so, please wait a moment and try to access the book later.

      Oxford University Press - 2008

    • url icon
      Hunger and War URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire webpage.
      National Geographic - 2022

    • url icon
      Displaced Person URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the definition for displaced person. (1 minute)

      Eurpoean Commission - 2019

    • url icon
      Malnutrition URL
      Students must
      View

      Read from the beginning of the page to "Scope of the problem" (excluded). (4 minutes)

      WHO - 2021

    • url icon
      Rule 5. Definition of Civilians URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire webpage. (5 minutes)

      International Committee of the Red Cross - 2014

    • url icon
      Emotional and Psychological Trauma URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the content under the heading "What is emotional and psychological trauma?". (2 minutes)

      HelpGuide.org - 2022

    • url icon
      Armed conflict, a neglected determinant of childhood vaccination : some children are left behind URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the following sections: (20 minutes)
      - Abstract
      - Introduction
      - Background
      - The impact of armed conflict on childhood immunization.
      - Attacks on health-care facilities and workers.
      - Forceful displacement and denial of access to health-care services.
      - Armed conflict, infectious disease outbreaks and the reemergence of VPDs.

      Him Vaccine Immunother - 2020

    • url icon
      Conducting public health surveillance in areas of armed conflict and restricted population access: a qualitative case study of polio surveillance in conflict affected areas of Borno state, Nigeria. URL
      Students must
      View
      Read the following sections: (5 minutes)
      - Global strategy.
      - Requirements for polio surveillance.
      - Challenges in surveillance in armed conflicts.
      - Context in Borno State, Nigeria.

      Conflict and Health - 2022
    • url icon
      Ukraine Emergeny URL
      Students must
      View
      Read the entire article. (1 minute)

      World Health Organization - 2022
    • url icon
      Armed Conflict and Public Health: Into the 21st Century URL
      Students must
      View
      Read the content under "Neonatal health" and "NCDs."(4 minutes)

      Journal of public health - 2019
    • url icon
      Federal/Provincial/Terrotorial Response Plan for Biological Events URL
      Students must
      View
      Read the following sections: (12 minutes)
      - Introduction
      - Aim
      - Scope
      - Objectives
      - Public Health and Emergency Management Roles.
      - The first paragraph of Concepts of Operations.

      Government of Canada - 2018
    • url icon
      Federal/Provincial/Terrotorial Response Plan for Biological Events URL
      Students must
      View
      Read the content under "Guiding principles."(2 minutes)

      Government of Canada - 2018
    • url icon
      Impact of War on Global Economy Extends Beyond Russia - Ukraine Borders URL
      Students must
      View
      Read the entire article. (7 minutes)

      The conference board of Canada - 2022
    • url icon
      Economic Impact of War URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire webpage. (13 minutes)

      Economicshelp.org - 2022
    • url icon
      The Deleterious Effects of War and Conflict on the Provision of Health Care for Vulnerable Populations and the Potential Effects of Covid-19 on Vulnerable Populations in Conflict Zones URL
      Students must
      View

      Under the section "Discussion ", read from "Internally displaced people and refugees" to "Education, health spending, and other factors" (included). (14 minutes)

      International Journal of Surgery Global Health - 2020
    • url icon
      Armed Conflict and Public Health: Into the 21st Century URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the content under "Effects of conflict on health" and "Reduced access to quality healthcare."(4 minutes) 

      Journal of Public Health - 2019

    • url icon
      The Impact of Infectious Disease in War Time: A Look Back at World War 1 URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (13 minutes)

      Future Microbiology - 2019
    • url icon
      Armed Conflict and Public Health: Into the 21st Century URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the content under "Tactics of war are a public health issue" and "Secular and inter-generational health effects."(7minutes)

      Journal of public health - 2020
    • url icon
      The Effects of World War II on Economic and Health Outcomes Across Europe URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the following sections: (40 minutes)
      - Introduction (first 2 paragraphs)
      - The channels of long-term effect of WWII
      - Mortality
      - Hunger
      - Measures of war exposure
      - Microlevel regressions of adult health and SES outcomes
      - Selection effects
      - Models of channels of war
      - Uneven consequences of war Conclusions

      Rev Econ Stat - 2014

    • forum icon
      Discussion forum: Public health consequences of war through the eyes of a victim (150 minutes)
      Students must
      View
      Start discussions: 1

      General Instructions:

      In this learning activity, you will write a fictional journal entry or social media post about your life during the war.

      Step 1: Review and Reflect 

      Review the required learning material for this module and reflect on the consequences of the war on health and public health services.

      Step 2: Respond 

      Prepare a 500-600 word written piece discussing the consequences of war on public health from the perspective of a victim of the war. Ensure that your response addresses the following key points:

      • How does the war’s environmental impact affect public health services? (I.e., access to water, food, transport, and sanitation services)
      • How does the war impact physical health and well-being? (I.e., the spread of non-communicable diseases, malnutrition, illness, disability, and other public health concerns)
      • How does war impact civilians’ mental health? (I.e., post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety)

      Step 3: Share

      To share your work, click the “Add a new discussion topic” button under this post and paste your work into the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

      Step 4: Interact 

      To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner. Be sure your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas on other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click “Post to forum.”

      OPTIONAL Step 5: Interact (10 minutes)

      If you would like to, you can reply to your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. Ensure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas of other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “Post to forum.”

    • Recommended Additional Readings
    • url icon
      War is a Public Health Emergency URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (2 minutes)

      Lancet - 2022
    • url icon
      War and Public Health URL
      Students must
      View

      Read pages 3-14 of "War and Public Health: An Overview."(32 minutes)

      To access this book, you must follow the instructions provided on this link.

      Take into account that at some point, some of the copies are not available and are in use. During this time, you will not be able to access a copy of the War and Public Health text. If so, please wait a moment and try to access the book later.

      Oxford University Press - 2008
    • url icon
      The Impact of War on the Health System of the Tigray Region in Ethiopia: An Assessment URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the content from "Attacks on healthcare facilities and attrition of health workers" to "Gender-based sexual violence and rape" (included). (10 minutes)

      BMJ Global Health - 2022

    • Module 1: Lesson 2: The Causes and Impact of War on Public Health

      Student Learning Outcomes:

      Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

      • Explain how social inequity, injustice, and health and education disparities can lead to war.
      • Explain how structural violence can lead to the outbreak of conflict and how it can exacerbate and prolong existing conflicts.
      • Explore the impact of war on access to other services such as transportation or communication.
      • Explore the impact of war on access to essentials services including water, food, and sanitation.
      • Outline the different ways in which war has influenced the spread of disease and other health concerns.
      • Examine the physical and psychosocial impact of war on children (Injury, Illness, Malnutrition, Growth retardation, PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, ADHD.
      • Examine the physical and psychosocial impact of war on women (gender-based violence, rape, HIV/AIDS, anxiety, PTSD, depression).
      • Examine the physical and psychosocial impact of war on youth and elderly (injury, chronic illness, anxiety, depression, PTSD).

      Approximate time required for the readings for this lesson (at 144 words/minute): 3 hours and 23 minutes.

      Required Learning Resources and Activities
    • url icon
      Causes of War: A Theory Analysis URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (4 minutes)
      Small wars Journal - 2018

    • url icon
      Educational Disparities and Conflict: Evidence from Lebanon URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the following sections: Introduction and Discussion. (18 minutes)
      Sage Journal - 2013

    • url icon
      Inequality and Ethnic Conflict in Sub Saharan Africa URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the following section: Introduction, Educational Inequalities Economic Inequalities, Demographic Inequalities. (12 minutes)
      Global Data Lab - 2016

    • url icon
      Conflict in Racism: Broome and White Australia URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the following section: We must be white: Race and Class, Conclusion. (13 minutes)
      Sage journals - 2019

    • url icon
      Organised Violence as a Never- Ending Story? Reflections in Light of the Russian Aggression Against Ukraine URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the following sections: Introduction and Conclusion. (5 minutes)
      Frontiers - 2022

    • url icon
      Impact of the War on the Telecommunications Sector in Yemen URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the section: Impact of the conflict. (7 minutes)
      Rethinking Yemen's Economy - 2022

    • url icon
      Russia's War on Ukraine: Implications for Transport URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the section: Impact of Russian Attacks and Sanctions on Transport. (5 minutes)
      European Parliamentary Research Service - 2022

    • url icon
      Fast Facts: WASH in Conflict URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire webpage. 
      UNICEF

    • url icon
      The Influence of War and Conflict on Spread of Infectious Disease: A Rapid Review Of Historical Lessons We Have Yet To Learn URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the following sections: Introduction, Results and Conclusions. (21 minutes)
      Sustainability - 2021

    • url icon
      The Effect of Armed Conflict On Children URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the following sections: Introduction, Global Burden of Armed Conflict on Child Health on Child Health, Effect of Armed Conflict on Children's Physical Health, Effect of Armed Conflict on Children's Mental and Psychosocial Health. (21 minutes)
      American Academics of Paediatrics - 2018

    • url icon
      Interpersonal Violence and Suicidality Among Former Child Soldiers and War - Exposed Civilian Children in Nepal URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the following sections: Background and Discussion.  (16 minutes)
      Global Mental Health - 2018

    • url icon
      The Impact of Armed Conflict on the Health of Women and Children URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the following sections: Mortality, Malnutrition, Non-fatal physical injuries and disabilities, Acute and infectious illness, Chronic and non-communicable diseases, Mental health, and Sexual and reproductive health. (26 minutes)

    • url icon
      Assessing the Impact of Violence and War on Youth in Low - and Middle - Income Countries URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the section: Effect of Violence on Youth in LAMIC. (2 minutes)
      Springler Link - 2013

    • url icon
      No One is Spared: Abuses Against Older People in Armed Conflict URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the following sections: Abuses against older people in conflict, Not fleeing hostilities. (21 minutes)
      Human Rights Watch - 2022

    • quiz icon
      Quiz: Module 1

      To access the quiz, click on the name of the quiz provided above. On the following screen, click the attempt quiz button to view the case studies and respond to the questions.

      TO PASS THIS QUIZ YOU MUST OBTAIN A SCORE OF 80%.

    • Recommended Additional Readings
    • url icon
      Implication of the Russia - Ukraine War for Global Food Security URL
      Students must
      View

      Read the entire article. (8 minutes)
      Nature human behaviour - 2022