Read the notes, then try the practice. It adapts as you go.When you're ready.
Session Length
~17 min
Adaptive Checks
15 questions
Transfer Probes
8
Global health is an interdisciplinary field that addresses health issues transcending national boundaries, with the goal of achieving health equity for all people worldwide. It encompasses the study, research, and practice of improving health outcomes and reducing disparities across populations, regardless of nationality, socioeconomic status, or geography. The field draws on disciplines including epidemiology, public health, medicine, economics, political science, and environmental science to understand and respond to health challenges that affect populations on a global scale.
Historically rooted in tropical medicine and international health, global health emerged as a distinct discipline in the late 20th century as infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria demonstrated that health threats do not respect borders. The establishment of organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance reflected a growing recognition that coordinated international action was essential. The field expanded further to address non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, mental health, and the social determinants of health that drive disparities between and within countries.
Today, global health faces complex and evolving challenges including pandemic preparedness, antimicrobial resistance, climate change and health, health system strengthening in low- and middle-income countries, and the unfinished agenda of universal health coverage. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the interconnectedness of global health systems and the critical importance of surveillance infrastructure, equitable vaccine distribution, and resilient supply chains. As the field moves forward, it increasingly emphasizes community-led approaches, decolonization of global health practice, and the integration of digital health technologies to improve access and outcomes for the most vulnerable populations.
One step at a time.
The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that shape health outcomes. These include income, education, housing, food security, and access to healthcare, and they account for a larger share of health variation than clinical care alone.
Example: Children born in low-income neighborhoods with limited access to nutritious food and safe play areas have significantly higher rates of obesity and asthma compared to children in wealthier areas.
The shift in disease burden from predominantly infectious and nutritional diseases to chronic and non-communicable diseases as countries develop economically and demographically. This transition is driven by improvements in sanitation, nutrition, and medical care.
Example: India is experiencing a dual burden of disease, where rural areas still struggle with malaria and diarrheal diseases while urban populations increasingly suffer from diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The principle that all people should have access to the health services they need without suffering financial hardship. UHC encompasses the full spectrum of essential services, from health promotion and prevention to treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.
Example: Thailand's Universal Coverage Scheme, introduced in 2002, provides healthcare to all citizens for a nominal copayment of 30 baht per visit, dramatically reducing catastrophic health expenditures among the poor.
Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) measure the total burden of disease by combining years of life lost due to premature mortality and years lived with disability. One DALY represents one lost year of healthy life, enabling comparison across diseases and populations.
Example: Lower respiratory infections account for approximately 63 million DALYs globally each year, making them one of the leading causes of disease burden, particularly among children under five in sub-Saharan Africa.
The absence of unfair, avoidable, or remediable differences in health among population groups defined socially, economically, or geographically. Health equity means that everyone has a fair opportunity to attain their full health potential regardless of social position or circumstances.
Example: Life expectancy at birth differs by more than 30 years between countries like Japan (approximately 84 years) and Sierra Leone (approximately 54 years), reflecting deep inequities in living conditions and healthcare access.
The planning, coordination, and capacity-building efforts undertaken by governments and international organizations to detect, prevent, and respond to disease outbreaks with pandemic potential. It includes surveillance systems, stockpiling of medical countermeasures, and communication protocols.
Example: The International Health Regulations (IHR) require WHO member states to develop core capacities for disease surveillance and response, yet the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that many countries lacked adequate preparedness infrastructure.
The ability of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites to resist the effects of medications that once effectively treated them. AMR is driven by overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in human medicine, agriculture, and animal husbandry.
Example: Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) requires treatment regimens lasting 18 to 20 months with more toxic and expensive drugs, compared to the standard 6-month regimen for drug-susceptible TB.
The systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of health data across countries to detect outbreaks, monitor disease trends, and guide public health responses. Modern surveillance integrates laboratory networks, digital reporting, and genomic sequencing.
Example: The Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) monitors influenza viruses circulating worldwide and informs the biannual selection of strains for seasonal flu vaccines.
More terms are available in the glossary.
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