This course examines interdisciplinary approaches to understanding, assessing, and controlling environmental factors that impact public health. Topics include the assessment of environmental factors that potentially affect health. Practical examples are used to help understand how epidemiology, health surveillance, and exposure surveillance can be used to determine the potential for health problems.

Field Work

The environment has a great impact on human health.  We will visit with scientists and physicians to discuss how the equatorial environment of Ghana impacts public health.  There are also major differences between the environments (including water sources) of large urban areas and the country that will be discussed.  Water quality and food sources are often the sources of parasites that create major public health problems. We will examine how parasites are determined by environmental factors. Students will be expected to see how environmental health issues differ between highly developed and industrialized countries and those in more rural developing states. Academic Objectives: 1. Describe the impact of pediatric diarrhea on individual and community health in Ghana. 2. Identify actions of public health in preventing and treating pediatric diarrhea in Ghana. 3. Explain the threat of emerging infections in these settings.