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Unit outline_

SEXH5414: Public Health: Sexual and Reproductive Health

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study deals with public health aspects of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including HIV. It addresses issues related to sexuality, sexual education, HIV/STI, unintended pregnancies, access to SRH services, maternal morbidity and mortality, sexual violence, sexual and reproductive rights, and discrimination/stigmatisation of vulnerable populations. Aspects of HIV/STIs and reproductive health will be discussed in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focusing on SDG 3 (related to health) and SDG 5 (related to gender equality and women's and girls’ empowerment). The unit further explores the epidemiological, societal and population aspects of SRH and HIV/STIs. Surveillance strategies, policy development and legislative responses will be discussed, with regards to the potential public health consequences. Emphasis will be placed on the delivery of effective prevention and management strategies

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Sexual Health
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Iryna Zablotska-Manos, iryna.zablotska@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Kirsten Black, kirsten.black@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Written Assignment
Essay
60% Formal exam period 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Online task Short Written Submissions
5 short written submissions
10% Multiple weeks 250 words per post
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small test Multiple Choice Quiz 1 (MCQ-1)
Online quiz
15% Week 08 45 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small test Multiple Choice Quiz 2 (MCQ-2)
Online quiz
15% Week 13 45 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Please note, for this unit of study (SEXH5414) the late submission penalty will be 5% of the maximum awardable mark for 10 calendar days only. If the assessment is submitted more than 10 calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Module 1A: Sexual and reproductive health across the lifespan & Module 1B: Introduction to global women’s health Independent study (8 hr)  
Lectures: Modules 1A and 1B Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 02 Module 2A: Childhood and adolescence and sexual education & Module 2B: Sexuality and sexual practices, safer sex Independent study (8 hr)  
Lectures: Modules 2A and 2B Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 03 Module 3A: Pregnancy termination & Module 3B: Unintended pregnancy and access to contraception Independent study (8 hr)  
Lectures: Modules 3A and 3B Lecture (2 hr)  
Tutorial 1 Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 04 Module 4A: Public health aspects of fertility and infertility & Module 4B: Public health aspects of reproductive cancers Independent study (8 hr)  
Lectures: Modules 4A and 4B Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 05 Module 5A: Access to sexual and reproductive health services and 5B: Violence and sexual and reproductive health Independent study (8 hr)  
Lectures: Modules 5A and 5B Lecture (2 hr)  
Tutorial 2 Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 06 Module 6A: Gender diversity & public health & Module 6B: Reproductive and sexual health for people with disabilities Independent study (8 hr)  
Lectures: Modules 6A and 6B Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 07 Module 7A: Sexual and reproductive health rights & Module 7B: Men’s sexual and reproductive health Independent study (8 hr)  
Lectures: Modules 7A and 7B Lecture (2 hr)  
Tutorial 3 Online class (1 hr)  
Week 08 Module 8A: Background on HIV and STIs & Module 8B: Epidemiology of HIV and STIs Independent study (8 hr)  
Lectures: Modules 8A and 8B Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 09 Module 9A: Public health surveillance of HIV and STIs & Module 9B: STI and HIV testing and screening approaches Independent study (8 hr)  
Lectures: Modules 9A and 9B Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 10 Module 10A: Key and vulnerable populations: MSM, transgender people and sex workers (SW) & Module 10B: Key and vulnerable populations: migrants and prisoners Independent study (8 hr)  
Lectures: Modules 10A and 10B Lecture (2 hr)  
Tutorial 4 Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 11 Module 11A: STI/HIV and their prevention in pregnancy & Module 11B: Modern HIV and STI prevention technologies Independent study (8 hr)  
Lectures: Modules 11A and 11B Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 12 Module 12A: HIV-STI prevention policy and programming & Module 12B: Vaccines for STI prevention Independent study (8 hr)  
Lectures: Modules 12A and 12B Lecture (2 hr)  
Tutorial 5 Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 13 Module 13A: Advocacy and community mobilisation in HIV prevention & Module 13B: Global strategies for HIV and STI control Independent study (8 hr)  
Lectures: Modules 13A and 13B Lecture (2 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Normal day students: compulsory attendance at 2-3 hours of face-to-face lectures/tutorials per week

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on Canvas

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand, analyse and interpret key indicators in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health (e.g. incidence and prevalence of STI and HIV, maternal morbidity and mortality, etc.) and apply evidence to improve SRH at the population level.
  • LO2. understand the epidemiology of reproductive health issues and sexually transmitted infections in Australia and overseas. Appreciate how their distribution differs across populations, time and location. Recognise the individual, societal and cultural determinants of SRH of different population group.
  • LO3. understand the relationship between sexuality, behaviour, social and cultural matters, and SRH of different populations.
  • LO4. understand the impact of environmental factors, such as education, policy and law, on SRH outcomes (e.g. sexual development of children and adolescents, experiences of LGBTI individuals, victims of sexual assault and others, access of the key and vulnerable population groups to SRH services, etc).
  • LO5. demonstrate an understanding of strategies and interventions to improve SRH. Appraise current public health interventions with a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals framework.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

UoS coordinator considered feedback and made appropriate changes/improvements

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.