Project Description

Philosophy of the Programme:

The underlying philosophy of the programme has the following components.

  • 1. Preventable morbidities and mortalities related to reproductive and family health continue to constitute great burdens on societies and families in developing countries, especially Nigeria. In particular, maternal and child deaths are extremely high in Nigeria and have been shown to be the most distinguishing features between developed and developing countries.

  • 2. Efforts to correct this challenge have not only been insufficient but have been largely lacking in technical content that integrates the underlying social-cultural, economic, political and medical factors.

  • 3. While maternal and child morbidities and mortalities often receive separate disciplinary attention, they have been widely shown to be closely linked in terms of their underlying social-cultural, economic and political determinants. These determinants and their resulting maternal and child morbidities and mortalities are closely interwoven with and deeply rooted in family life. Reproductive health interventions and training therefore deserve separate and integrated approaches in the context of family life.

  • 4. The programme was developed based on the conviction that an integrated public health approach, led by human resources with high-level technical skills and competence, is a major and desirable contribution to the significant reduction of morbidities and mortalities related to reproductive and family health, especially maternal and child deaths.

  • 5. The programme recognises reproductive and family health as a multidisciplinary subject with a minimum definition that includes those provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD POA). A definition of reproductive and family health should include a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity of the reproductive system and the family; it is a constellation of methods, techniques and services that contribute to reproductive and family wellbeing, which includes sexual health, designed to enhance the quality of life and personal relations.

Aim of The Programme

The overall aim of the programme is to develop human resources with high-level technical skills and competence to provide and lead integrated preventive and promotive public health interventions in reproductive and family health.

Objectives

The following are the objectives of the programme:

  • 1. To provide training that incorporates the historic, sociocultural, economic, political and conflict-related contexts that impact on the health of women, children and families.

  • 2. To provide training that covers, but not limited to, family planning, infertility, safe motherhood, reproductive tract infections, gender-based violence, genital tract cancers and human sexuality and responsible parenthood.

  • 3. To build capacity for applying general public health approaches in addressing reproductive health challenges.

  • 4. To incorporate best practices in teaching, learning and research in reproductive and family health in line with the objectives and programmes of CERHI.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the MPH in Reproductive and Family Health training programme, graduates are expected to be able to:

  • 1. Identify the causes and effects of major health problems that occur during pregnancy, infancy, childhood and adolescence.

  • 2. Assess the health care needs of women and children.

  • 3. Integrate the understanding of life course with multiple determinants of health in developing solutions to reproductive and family health challenges.

  • 4. Conduct research related to the health and well-being of families, especially women and children.

  • 5. Demonstrate the ability to provide scientific, including epidemiological, evidence as basis for developing reproductive and family health programmes.

  • 6. Manage (plan, implement and evaluate) sexual, reproductive and family health programmes in diverse settings.

  • 7. Head teams and organisations involved in reproductive and family health programmes.

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Programme Duration

The programme will run in two forms – a 12-month full-time programme and an option of a 24-month part-time programme. The components of the programme are coursework (including a practicum) and dissertation/thesis. The coursework and synopses are described in additional sections below. The proposal for the dissertation/thesis is expected to be completed by the end of the first semester of the programme. The programme components and durations are outlined in Table 1.

Both full-time and part-time students admitted in the same session shall run the coursework simultaneously in the first session (12 months). The full-time students are required to complete their dissertations within the 12-month duration of their programme, along with their coursework. The part-time students are required to complete their dissertations in the second session of their 24-month programme during which they may redo the courses failed in or carried over from the previous session.

Table 1: Structure and duration of the programme

Components Duration Credit Units
Part-time Full-time
Semesters Months Semesters Months
Coursework and Field Practicum 2 12 2 12 36
Dissertation/thesis 2 12 4
Total 4 24 2 12 40
Maximum 8 48 4 24 –

Conditions for Graduation

To graduate, candidates must pass all of the following.

  1. A written examination for each course at the end of the respective semesters. A written examination is not required for the practicum which will be scored as described in the appropriate section below.
  2. An oral defence for the completed dissertation/thesis, in line with Postgraduate School guidelines.

Conditions for Repeat and Withdrawal

A student who fails a course in any year must re-register for the course in the following year, if eligible.

A full-time student who fails to meet any of the following conditions shall be required to withdraw from the programme:

  1. A minimum of 10 credits at the end of the first semester of the programme.
  2. A minimum of 20 credits at the end of the second semester of the first year of the programme.
  3. Completion of the programme in a maximum of 24 months (4 semesters).

A part-time student who fails to meet any of the following conditions shall be required to withdraw from the programme:

  1. A minimum of 10 credits at the end of the first year of the programme.
  2. A minimum of 20 credits at the end of the second year of the programme.
  3. Completion of the programme in a maximum 48 months (8 semesters).

Evaluation and Grading Procedure

The evaluation and grading shall be done using the following scale (Table 2). A student must score a minimum of 50% (C grade) to pass a course. The course assessment will be based on 30% continuous assessment and 70% examination.

Table 2: Evaluation and Grading

Alphabetical Grade Percentage Value interpretation Points
A 70 – 100 Excellent 5
B 60 – 69 Very Good 4
C 50 – 59 Pass 3
D 0 – 49 Fail 0
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COURSEWORK

The coursework lasts for two semesters. The details are shown in Tables 1 and 2

COURSE OUTLINES FOR MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN REPRODUCTIVE AND FAMILY HEALTH FIRST SEMESTER

Course Code Course Title L T P CU
MRH 811 Family Structure and Functions; Geriatrics Column 3 Value Column 4 Value Column 5 Value
MRH 812 Maternal Morbidity and Mortality; Selected Morbidities of Women 2 0 0 2
MRH 813 Child Morbidity and Mortality; Selected Morbidities of Children 2 0 0 2
MRH 814 Health Services and Control Programmes in Reproductive and Family Health 2 0 0 2
MPH 812 Biostatistics 2 0 0 2
MPH 813 General Epidemiology 2 0 0 2
MPH 816 Health Promotion, Health Education and Social Mobilisation 2 0 0 2
MPH 817 Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods; Research Ethics 2 0 0 2
MPH 818 Demography 2 0 0 2
Elective courses (one required) 2 0 0 2
MPH 815 Primary Health Care 2 0 0 2
MPH 831 Health Informatics and Computers in Public Health Practice 2 0 0 2
MPH 832 Health and Development; Health Project Management 2 0 0 2
TOTAL 20

COURSE OUTLINES FOR MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN REPRODUCTIVE AND FAMILY HEALTH SECOND SEMESTER

Course Code Course Title L T P CU
MRH 821 Human Sexuality 2 0 0 2
MRH 822 Adolescent Reproductive Health; School Health 2 0 0 2
MRH 823 Gender Equity and Equality; Men’s Health 2 0 0 2
MRH 824 Legislations, Conventions, Policies and Ethics Related to Reproductive and Family Health 2 0 0 2
MRH 825 Field practicum 0 0 2 2
MRH 825 Public Health Nutrition 2 0 2 2
MPH 827 Health Economics 2 0 0 2
MPH 828 Health Policy, Planning and Management 2 0 0 2
MRH 899 Dissertation/thesis 0 0 4 4
TOTAL 20
GRAND TOTAL = 40 CREDIT UNITS
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Admission Requirements

Applicants

The following two requirements must be met:
1. A first degree in a health-related science, not below 2nd Class.
2. A certificate of completion of or exemption from the National Youth Service Corps. (Foreign students are exempted from this requirement).
A qualification in a field related to reproductive and family health may be an advantage.
Applicants may be required to sit for a qualifying entrance examination.

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