CAM 404
Public Health in Complementary and Alternative Medicine
2 Unit(s) (LH 30)
Course Description
At the end of the course, the students should be able to:
1. appreciate the concept of Public Health;
2. demonstrate skill in taking epidemiological data and interpreting same;
3. explain the basic principles of disease transmission and control; and
4. apply the knowledge of fundamental concepts and principles in the sciences to health issues.
Course Outline
Concept of Public Health and Health System. Definition of Public Health and areas of application,
how man has responded to health problems, Model of a natural health system, Analysis of
National Health System, Statements on the development of Health Systems.
Introduction to Epidemiology. Infectious disease Process. Natural History of Disease and levels
of prevention. Epidemic and Endemic Disease. Classification of Disease. Measuring Health and
Disease. Measures of Disease Frequency. Measures of Association. Public Health Measures.
Sources of Health Data. Clinical trials and Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Control of
Communicable/Non-communicable Diseases. Control of selected Diseases – Malaria, Guinea
worm, STDs/HIV – AIDS, Onchocerciasis, Tuberculosis, Rabies and Anthrax. Gender and Health.
Social Interaction and Social Behaviour in Health. Health Education and Promotion. Definition,
Focus on Basic Concepts and Principles of Health Education/Promotion; Understanding Human
Behaviour. Man-Environment interaction process and its Public Health Importance Demography.
Scope and Objective of Demography. Population Census. Demographic Sample Surveys. Errors in
Demographic Data. Age and Sex Composition, Population Policies and Programmes in Nigeria.
Migration and Population Distribution. The concept and element of the environment of man.
Planning, organisation, monitoring and evaluation of health systems. Synergy between orthodox
and traditional medicine. Concept of referral networking.