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INTHE4118 - Reproductive and Sexual Health and Human Rights

Course content

Reproductive health is a well defined and not too controversial concept.
Reproductive rights may not be, as it implies abortion rights, which for some is very complicated. Sexual health is probably easy as long as it is only applies to sexually transmitted diseases, but sexual rights, again, may incorporate sexual behaviours that in some cultures are seen as very deviant. The course explores why reproductive and sexual health rights are so complicated to implement, and addresses the legal, religious and cultural aspects of the controversies as well as the very serious health consequences of these restrictions, like maternal mortality, high STD prevalence, vulnerability to HIV, knowledge of risks, and cultural practices like FGM and early childbearing. A gender perspective is the overriding principle for the analysis.

Learning outcomes

Learning objectives:
to enable students to identify human rights issues that can be subject to research for policy change (evidence based policy) and to develop an analytical framework and a methodological, interdisciplinary approach to understanding the gender, legal and health dimensions in human rights.

Content:
• Gender, definition and concepts, mainstreaming
• Social determinants of health and illness, inequities in health, gender and social dimensions.
• Human rights framework, and health rights, to reproductive and sexual health and rights.
• Health Policy, policy analysis, informing policy, policy, implementation and strategy.
• Health systems. Macro context, financing, delivery of care, service planning, a tool for change, evaluation of quality of care.

Case studies:
• Abortion rights and sex selection
• Violence against women and reproductive health rights
• Access to care and maternal survival
• HIV, sexuality and stigma
• Unmet needs – contraceptives and other needs
• Integration of services, including HIV & STD in maternal health care

Admission

Contact Line Løw or Marina Agersborg by e-mail:
inthealth-studieinfo@helsam.uio.no if you want admission to this course.

Prerequisites

No obligatory prerequisites beyond the minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway.

Teaching

Spring 2011: Week 18 (Mai 4th-9th); Classroom lectures 9.00-15.00

Exam information

Exam resources

No special exam resources are allowed.

Language of examination

English

Assessment and grading

Students are awarded either a passing or a failing grade. Read more about the grading system .

Explanations and appeals

Students can request an explanation of their grades, and can also appeal against their grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals

Possibility of make-up exams and re-takes

You can usually resit an exam, but the conditions depend on whether you had a valid reason for absence from the regular exam. Read more about resitting an exam .

Exam options for students with special needs

Students may apply for access to alternative exam resources or exam forms on the basis of chronic illness and/or special needs that create a marked disadvantage to other students in the exam situation. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.

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