Module manager: John Walley
Email: J.Walley@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
Programme Entry Qualifications.
This module is not approved as an Elective
The module aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to intervene to control communicable (infectious) diseases. Students are exposed to knowledge about common communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries and the principles and methods of communicable disease control. Students gain a foundation in analysing data and information about communicable diseases, and in the appraisal of different approaches for communicable disease control. Consideration for diverse student needs - Students will benefit from support from the module leader, academic tutor and programme team. Students will have the ability to re-watch lectures at their own pace. Formative work and opportunities are provided throughout the module to support students as they prepare for summative work. Module material and learning resources are uploaded to Minerva in advance so that students can access material and resources according to their pace of work. Decolonised approach - Students and lecturers will be invited to reflect on diverse knowledge that are not often seen in global public health literature. Teaching allows space for reflection on and challenge to how colonisation and dominance structures contributed to communicable diseases, systems and outcomes. Inequities, rights and social justice - Teaching and assessments on the module will centre issues of addressing inequities and rights-based approaches to CDC. Students will be challenged to use an equity, rights and social justice approach.
The objectives of this module are to:
1. Work towards the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), through primary health care (PHC) and specific disease control strategies of WHO,
2. Extend knowledge on the epidemiology and control of endemic and epidemic communicable diseases (CDC)
3. Apply public health intervention/policy approaches in CDCs.
4. Investigate and control outbreaks (epidemics)
5. Review public health programmes, including for high vaccination coverage.
6. Apply primary health care (PHC) approaches and multiple interventions to control vector borne diseases.
7. Evaluate local health service needs, assess evidence for effective and feasible interventions, and integrate CDC control within health systems by selecting sustainable service delivery strategies that ensure high coverage and quality.
8. Understand operational research and development in CDC.
9. Apply skills in analysing and controlling communicable diseases and appraising control interventions and service delivery as applied to local contexts (in low-middle income countries) with a focus on the sub-national health teams (governmental and supporting Non-Governmental Organisations and agencies) and their role in understanding, acting and controlling communicable diseases.
The specific learning outcomes are:
1. analyse data and information about communicable diseases, and appraise different public health intervention and management approaches and toolkits for the control of endemic and epidemic communicable diseases
2. Evaluate public health programmes, specifically vaccination strategies within the Expanded Programme of Immunisation, in different geographical and coverage contexts.
3. Evaluate primary health care (PHC) approaches and interventions for communicable disease control
4. Appraise how different health systems and service delivery mechanisms, including integration, decentralization, sustainability, high coverage and high quality, can impact communicable diseases control.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
Technical Skills:
1. Use epidemiology principles and skills to review of communicable disease situation. This includes disease burden, existing programmes/ services, describe (epidemiology) disease rates, intervention coverage, trends
2. Appraise evidence of effectiveness and feasibility of Communicable Disease Control interventions and delivery strategies in relation to a local context
3. Explore communicable disease control through primary health care approaches including multi-sectoral working and community engagement
4. Review programme intervention and service delivery activities, action plans and surveillance of communicable diseases
Work Ready Skills:
5. Develop partnership-working, problem-solving, and evidence-based decision-making skills to address population health challenges effectively while enhancing the ability to engage and communicate with key actors at national and local levels, incorporating diverse perspectives to foster collaboration with health professionals and organizations.
Academic Skills:
6. Develop analytical and writing skills to critically assess evidence from research, policies, and health interventions, considering effectiveness, feasibility, and confidence measures for evidence-based appraisals.
Digital Skills:
7. Use of appropriate technology in coursework.
This module focuses on communicable diseases and means to control them. An illustrative syllabus include:
1. Case studies on common and priority communicable diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
2. Outbreaks (Epidemic diseases), including emerging highly transmissible infects, and mechanisms to control them
3. Neglected tropical diseases and strategies to address them
4. Vector borne diseases
5. TB and general Antimicrobial Resistance.
6. Vaccination strategies within the Expanded Programme of Immunisation in different geographical and coverage contexts
7. Primary health care (PHC) approaches and interventions
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 8 | 1.5 | 12 |
| Seminar | 8 | 1.5 | 12 |
| Private study hours | 126 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 24 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
Student progress will be monitored through the following activities:
- Observation of class dynamics, discussions and group work - verbal feedback will be given by the teacher
- Group work - verbal feedback on both the content and process of the assessed presentation will be provided by the teacher
- Students can use the Discussion Board on Minerva to raise questions about module content and / or assessment plans
- A question and answer session about the assessments
- A practice examination where students receive feedback on their performance
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1,500-word written essay | 50 |
| Assignment | Formative assessment - A practice of examination | 0 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 50 | |
Because elements of assessment within a module test different learning outcomes compensation, in the event of failure of one component, the module mark will be capped at 50 on a successful resit.
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 1.0 Hrs 30 Mins | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 50 | |
This is an In-person class test based on a set reading that is given. Examination will take place during module teaching time already scheduled.
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 28/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team