E4080 Demography and Social Determinants of Health

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Hynek Pikhart, Ph.D., M.Sc. (lecturer)
Mgr. Andrea Dalecká, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Anna Bartošková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
MUDr. Martin Bobák, M.Sc., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Albert Kšiňan, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Gabriela Kšiňanová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Consuelo Quispe Haro (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Hynek Pikhart, Ph.D., M.Sc.
RECETOX – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Mgr. Hynek Pikhart, Ph.D., M.Sc.
Supplier department: RECETOX – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! E0360 Social epidemiology
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce students to social epidemiology and the basics of demography. Individual lectures will include an overview of the social determinants of health, discussing the mechanisms of their action across the life course. Students will explore methods of measuring population health and health inequalities. Students will extend their knowledge of epidemiological methods that will be practiced by analyzing and interpreting research findings during the practical part of the lectures.
Learning outcomes
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of social determinants of health, including the ability to explain the underlying mechanisms
• Explain the concepts of demographic and epidemiological transitions
• Describe and calculate measures of population health, including different types of standardization
• Understand the concept of life course epidemiology with the ability to introduce practical examples
• Utilize research findings to propose evidence-based social interventions for improvements in public health.
Syllabus
  • Introduction to social epidemiology and population health
  • Demographic and epidemiological transition
  • Socioeconomic position and health, relative vs. absolute differences in health status
  • Measures of population health, primary and non-primary standardization
  • Psychosocial and psychological factors
  • Individual vs. group exposures
  • Psychosocial factors in the work environment and health
  • Determinants of health in childhood and adolescence
  • Determinants of health across the life course
  • Long-term changes and secular trends in health status
  • Mechanisms of social influences on health
  • Social interventions
Literature
  • Social epidemiology. Edited by Lisa F. Berkman - Ichirō Kawachi - M. Maria Glymour. Second edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014, xvii, 615. ISBN 9780195377903. info
  • Social determinants of healththe solid facts. Edited by Richard G. Wilkinson - M. G. Marmot. Copenhagen: World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe, 2003, 33 p. ISBN 9289013710. info
  • BARTLEY, Mel. Health inequality : an introduction to concepts, theories and methods. Second edition. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2017, 1 online. ISBN 9780745691138. URL info
  • Handbook of epidemiology. Edited by Wolfgang Ahrens. 1st ed. Berlin: Springer, 2005, ix, 115. ISBN 3540005668. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussion, group projects evaluated through presentation.
Assessment methods
Two written tests (25% and 40%)
• There will be two non-cumulative exams per semester (midterm and final)
• Based on lecture materials
• See the course calendar for exam dates

Group project and presentation (20%)
• There will be a practical assignment that will require in-home preparation (studying the assigned research article, preparing the answers for the research questions, and presenting it in the final lecture)
• Submit the pre-class assignments to the is.muni Homework Vaults (“Odevzdávárna”)

Activity (15%)
• The instructor may award students 0-3 points for in-class activity in each course week. The maximum number of points earned in this way is 15, i.e., 15% of the total grade during the semester.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2025/E4080