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PHS804

Maternal And Child Health

This course provides a detailed understanding of Maternal and Child Health, an important branch of Public Health. It covers basic concepts, landmark events related to reproductive health, and the reproductive health behavior of Nigerians. The course also introduces maternal mortality, its determinants, measurement, and the maternal and child health needs of special populations. Furthermore, it discusses communicable and non-communicable diseases, health systems, monitoring and evaluation, quality of care, and the socio-economics of reproductive health care.

About this course

Difficulty
Intermediate
Study hours
156 hours
Maths
Basic
Content
Theoretical, case study
Practical work
No
How it is assessed
  • Tutor Marked Assignments
  • Self Assessment Exercises
  • Final Examination

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of PHS804, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

PHS804 · UNIT 1 INTRODUCTION TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

To complete this course, you are required to read each study unit, read the textbooks and read other materials which may be provided by the National Open University of Nigeria.

What you should be able to do

  1. Understand the key concepts and components of reproductive health.
  2. Identify the determinants and causes of maternal mortality.
  3. Describe the essential elements of safe motherhood and family planning.
  4. Explain the integrated approach to newborn care.
  5. Discuss the reproductive health needs of adolescents and men.
  6. Explain the role of health systems in delivering reproductive health services.
  7. Apply monitoring and evaluation principles to reproductive health programs.

What it prepares you for

Careers
  • Public Health Officer
  • Reproductive Health Specialist
  • Maternal and Child Health Coordinator
  • Health Program Manager
  • Community Health Worker
Where it is applied
  • Healthcare
  • Public Health
  • Non-Governmental Organizations
  • International Development
  • Government Agencies

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

  • Module 3: Maternal Mortality

    Unit 2: Measurement of Maternal Mortality Ratio and Rates

    Measurement of maternal mortality ratio and rates requires understanding of demographic data and statistical calculations.

  • Module 5: Diseases of Public Health Importance in Maternal Health

    Unit 2: Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV/AIDS

    Understanding the aetiology and mode of transmission of STIs and HIV/AIDS requires knowledge of microbiology and infectious diseases.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 65 hours in total. Yours will differ.

  1. Week 1Module 1: Basic concepts and Landmark Events Related to Reproductive Health and its Evolution
    • Unit 1: Introduction to Reproductive Health · 4 hours

      Read the definition of reproductive health.. Understand the concept and importance of reproductive health.. Describe the components of the reproductive health package.. Understand the magnitude of reproductive health problems.. Understand reproductive health indicators..

  2. Week 2Module 1: Basic concepts and Landmark Events Related to Reproductive Health and its Evolution
    • Unit 2: Historical Background of Maternal and Child Health · 3 hours

      Discuss the historical development of the concept of maternal and child health.. Understand the establishment of UNFPA and its role in addressing population problems.. Examine the shift from MCH/FP to Reproductive Health at the ICPD..

  3. Week 3Module 1: Basic concepts and Landmark Events Related to Reproductive Health and its Evolution
    • Unit 3: Life Course Perspectives · 3 hours

      Discuss the concept of the life course approach.. Explain the rationale of the life course approach.. Outline the challenges in implementing a life course approach to health.. Discuss the linkage between the continuum of care and the life course approach..

  4. Week 4Module 1: Basic concepts and Landmark Events Related to Reproductive Health and its Evolution
    • Unit 4: International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), Post-ICPD, Beijing+10 · 3 hours

      Discuss the ICPD concept.. Explain the Beijing +10 concept.. Understand the roles of the ICPD Programme of Action and the Beijing Platform in revolutionizing international standards for women's rights and health..

  5. Week 5Module 2: Reproductive Health Behaviour In Nigeria
    • Unit 1: Contraception as a Pre-Conceptional Health Intervention · 4 hours

      Define family planning.. Explain the rationale for family planning programs in developing countries.. State steps in counselling.. Discuss different Family planning delivery systems..

  6. Week 6Module 2: Reproductive Health Behaviour In Nigeria
    • Unit 2: Abortion as a Public Health Issue · 4 hours

      Explain abortion.. Identify reasons behind unplanned pregnancy.. Define Unsafe abortion and know contributing factors.. State the barriers to safe abortion.. Discuss the abortion law in Nigeria.. Describe different components of post-abortion care..

  7. Week 7Module 2: Reproductive Health Behaviour In Nigeria
    • Unit 3: Antenatal and Obstetrical Care Models · 4 hours

      Explain the concept of antenatal and obstetric care.. Discuss traditional antenatal care.. Discuss focused antenatal care.. Discuss the new 2016 ANC model.. State the components of essential obstetric care.. Describe the components of emergency obstetric care..

  8. Week 8Module 2: Reproductive Health Behaviour In Nigeria
    • Unit 4: Safe Motherhood and Continuum of Care · 4 hours

      Explain the Concept of Safe Motherhood.. State the Safe Motherhood Action.. Discuss Effective Strategies to Achieve Safe Motherhood.. Describe the pillars of safe motherhood..

  9. Week 9Module 3: Maternal Mortality
    • Unit 1: Determinants of Maternal Mortality · 4 hours

      Explain the concept of maternal mortality.. Discuss the determinant of maternal death.. State the commonest causes of maternal death.. Highlight possible preventive actions against maternal mortality..

  10. Week 10Module 3: Maternal Mortality
    • Unit 2: Measurement of Maternal Mortality Ratio and Rates · 4 hours

      Explain maternal mortality ratio.. State the importance of maternal mortality ratio as a health indicator in a society.. Explain the differences between maternal mortality ratio and rate.. Discuss the approaches for measuring maternal mortality ratio and rate..

    • Unit 3: Obstetrical Care (EONC, EMCOR, BOC), Unmet Obstetrical Need, Delays in Obstetrical Care · 4 hours

      Discuss the concept of obstetric care.. Explain the concept of unmet obstetric care.. Discuss the delays in Obstetric care..

  11. Week 11Module 4: Maternal and Child Health Needs of Special Populations
    • Unit 4: Integrated Approach to Newborn Care · 4 hours

      Relate the concept of the integrated approach to newborn care.. Explain the importance of integrating newborn care..

    • Unit 1: Issues of Adolescents and Young Adults · 4 hours

      Explain the meaning of adolescent development.. Discuss the importance of adolescents reproductive health.. Describe the reproductive health risks and consequences in adolescents.. Discuss the challenges of adolescent reproductive health.. Explain adolescent reproductive health services.. State the factors affecting reproductive health needs.. Discuss the socioeconomic and psychological consequences of pregnancy for unmarried adolescents..

  12. Week 12Module 4: Maternal and Child Health Needs of Special Populations
    • Unit 2: Needs of And Issues for Men · 4 hours

      Explain the concept of needs and issues for men.. Describe how to improve men's and boys' sexual and reproductive health.. Discuss the building blocks to working on men's sexual and reproductive health.. Explain the sexual and reproductive health service package for men and adolescent boys..

    • Unit 3: Role of Males in Safe Motherhood · 4 hours

      Explain the concept of safe motherhood.. Describe the roles of males in safe motherhood.. Discuss the Safe Motherhood Action.. Explain the essential services of safe motherhood..

  13. Week 13Final Revision
    • Final Revision · 8 hours

      Review all course materials.. Work on assignments.. Prepare for final examinations..

Preparing for the exam

What to do
  • Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and Self-Assessment Exercises (SAEs) to reinforce understanding.
  • Create concept maps linking key topics across modules, such as determinants of maternal mortality and safe motherhood strategies.
  • Focus on understanding the differences between maternal mortality rate and ratio, and the methods for measuring them.
  • Practice applying the GATHER steps in family planning counseling scenarios.
  • Study the components of basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care (BEmOC and CEmOC).
  • Review the WHO's recommendations for antenatal care and skilled birth attendance.
  • Understand the legal and ethical issues surrounding abortion in Nigeria.
  • Familiarize yourself with the roles of different levels of the health system (primary, secondary, tertiary) in reproductive health.
  • Study the key indicators used in monitoring and evaluating reproductive health programs.
  • Create a timeline of landmark events in the history of reproductive health.
  • Focus on understanding the challenges and strategies for integrating reproductive health services.
  • Review the socio-economic factors that influence reproductive health outcomes.
  • Understand the specific reproductive health needs of adolescents and men.

Questions students ask about this course

What is PHS804 about?

This course provides a detailed understanding of Maternal and Child Health, an important branch of Public Health. It covers basic concepts, landmark events related to reproductive health, and the reproductive health behavior of Nigerians. The course also introduces maternal mortality, its determinants, measurement, and the maternal and child health needs of special populations. Furthermore, it discusses communicable and non-communicable diseases, health systems, monitoring and evaluation, quality of care, and the socio-economics of reproductive health care.

How many units does PHS804 have?

PHS804, Maternal And Child Health, has 29 units across 8 modules, over 209 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is PHS804?

PHS804 carries 2 credit units, at 800 level in Health Sciences.

Is PHS804 hard?

PHS804 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.

How long does PHS804 take to study?

About 156 hours of study, spread across its 29 units.

How is PHS804 assessed?

PHS804 is assessed by Tutor Marked Assignments, Self Assessment Exercises and Final Examination.

What can I do with PHS804?

Public Health Officer, Reproductive Health Specialist, Maternal and Child Health Coordinator, Health Program Manager and Community Health Worker.

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