Unit details

IMED1108 Issues in Women's Health Across the Lifespan

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 2	UWA (Perth)	Face to face
Semester 2	Online	Online Restricted

Details for undergraduate courses

• Level 1 option in the Gender Studies major sequence
• Level 1 elective

Content

Determinants of our health include the social, economic and physical environments in which we live, and our individual characteristics and behaviours. In particular, our sex and our gender have significant impacts on our health. Whilst life expectancy is higher for women than men in most countries, there are a number of health and social factors that combine to create a lower quality of life for women.
This unit explores determinants of women's health across the lifespan: from conception, through childhood, into the reproductive years and beyond. With a particular focus on health promotion, a fundamental part of this unit is to examine interesting case studies, including Indigenous and global health issues.
There is also the potential for students to extend their educational and research interests in women's health in the Levels 2 and 3 elective units, IMED2208 Issues in Women's Reproductive Health and IMED3301 Issues in Women's Health Research, as choices within their academic course pathway.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) explain how sex and gender relate to key determinants of women's health.; (2) describe how key stakeholders in women's health interact during decision making process for both individual and community health needs; (3) describe in relation to women's health the basic principles of bioethics; health policy and governance at local, national and global levels; health promotion; and evidence-based healthcare.; (4) identify, in a global and cultural context, sex and gender differentials in morbidity, mortality and health outcomes for the female fetus, girl child, female adolescent, reproductive woman, and adult and older women.; (5) discuss the concepts of selective female abortion, rights of the unborn child, genetic mapping and gender selection, and their implications for women's health in a global and cultural context.; (6) discuss in a global and cultural context issues affecting the girl child including: female genital mutilation, child abuse and maltreatment.; (7) discuss global and cultural diversity in female puberty, sexual debut, adolescent pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, substance use, diet, physical activity, mental health in adolescence.; (8) discuss aspects of global and cultural diversity in custom, practice and tradition in maternal health around the world including infertility, advances in assisted reproduction and birthing practices; (9) discuss issues surrounding violence toward women, female depression and suicide.; (10) discuss influences on the health of older women including socioeconomic factors, managing disabilities and caring for older women in contemporary society.; (11) identify and discuss the impact of local, national and global policies in women's health.; and (12) demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills both independently and in a group.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) tests; (2) individual written assessments; and (3) group project. Further information is available in the unit outline.

For units commencing in May 2022 or later the availability of the supplementary assessment is subject to confirmation.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Except where supplementary assessment is not available in a unit, it will be offered to students in all units who:

• Are in good academic standing overall;
• Have passed over half the units taken in the teaching period concerned, except where they are only enrolled in two or less units in the period;
• Have submitted all assessment items in the unit;
• Have achieved a mark between 45 and 49 for the unit overall, or the same mark in any failed component item in the unit; and
• No finding of academic misconduct has been made against them in the unit concerned.

Additionally student may apply for supplementary assessment in any unit which is the final unit required for graduation in there course and where they have achieved a mark between 45 and 49 for the unit overall, or the same mark in any failed component item in the unit.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Demelza Ireland and Dr Philippa Martyr

Unit rules

Prerequisites:

Nil

Co-requisites:

Nil

Incompatibility:

Nil

Contact hours

lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 2 hours per week