Undergraduate public health degree courses in India: selected overview

Authors

  • Vibha Joshi Department of Public Health, Lachoo Memorial College of Science and Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Nitin Kumar Joshi School of Public Health, AIIMS, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5106-0455
  • Komal Bajaj Sainath Hospital and Research Center, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Praveen Suthar Department of Public Health, Lachoo Memorial College of Science and Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Gregory Fant Jodhpur School of Public Health, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
  • Anil Purohit Jodhpur School of Public Health, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20194199

Keywords:

Public health workforce, Bachelor of science in public health, Review of undergraduate curriculum

Abstract

Background: Building the public health workforce in India along with strengthening the public health systems across the Nation are essential components necessary to achieve the sustainable development goals for India. In the Indian context, there is limited information available for undergraduate public health education. The central aim of this brief study is to elucidate the undergraduate public health education landscape at selected institutions in India.

Methods: A mixed methods approach was used in this brief study. First, cross-sectional, scoping review was used. Then, to describe student perceptions and attitude towards undergraduate public health curriculum, primary data were collected by using a questionnaire. A self-administered questionnaire was developed after extensive literature search. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize questionnaire results. Chi-square tests were used to help identify factors that may influence student perceptions and attitudes.

Results: Through scoping rapid review and internet search, eight institutions were identified that are offering undergraduate public health courses in India. Most institutes in India have 3 years duration for the undergraduate public health degree courses. Most of students (89%) believed that the undergraduate public health course increased their knowledge in the field of public health. We found an association between student perceptions about community benefits from trained undergraduate public health workforce.

Conclusions: The undergraduate public health education initiatives should be promoted and envisioned as a new strategy for public health capacity-building in public health in India.

Author Biographies

Vibha Joshi, Department of Public Health, Lachoo Memorial College of Science and Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Assistant professor, Department of Public health, Lachoo Memorial College of Science and Technology ,Jodhpur.

Nitin Kumar Joshi, School of Public Health, AIIMS, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Currently working as Demonstrator at School of Public Health AIIMS Jodhpur and enrolled as PhD scholar at Department of CM&FM AIIMS Jodhpur. Worked as Assistant Professor and manager academic development at Jodhpur School of Public health (for 6 years) and as lecturer at Jodhpur Dental College(for 4 years).

Komal Bajaj, Sainath Hospital and Research Center, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Research Assistant, Sainath hospital & Research center, Jodhpur

Praveen Suthar, Department of Public Health, Lachoo Memorial College of Science and Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Lecturer, Department of Public health, Lachoo Memorial College of Science and Technology ,Jodhpur

Gregory Fant, Jodhpur School of Public Health, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Public Health Epidemiologist and Administrator, Global Health Consultant, Visiting Professor, Jodhpur School of Public Health, Jodhpur

Anil Purohit, Jodhpur School of Public Health, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

CEO and Founder, Jodhpur School of Public Health (JSPH), Jodhpur.

 

 

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Published

2019-09-26

How to Cite

Joshi, V., Joshi, N. K., Bajaj, K., Suthar, P., Fant, G., & Purohit, A. (2019). Undergraduate public health degree courses in India: selected overview. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 6(10), 4224–4231. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20194199

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Section

Original Research Articles