Health Demography and Global Population Issues

Demography is the study of human populations; health demography applies demographic methods and concepts to explore health status and health behaviors. This field examines how factors such as age, marital status and income influence the health status and health behaviors of populations, and how health phenomena, in turn, affect demographic attributes. It also explores how spatial location interacts with demography and health effects, and considers the interplay between demographic processes and health-related societal issues, such as poverty, health inequalities, infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases. Over the past century, macro-level developments have had significant downstream impacts on global population health, highlighting the importance of these connections.

In this course, specific attention is given to the relationship between demography and health, both in the short and long term, covering a wide range of topics from historical and future perspectives. In addition to lectures and interactive peer discussions, students will design and conduct a group-based, application-focused quantitative research project on demographic aspects of health or health behaviors. The group project is a central component of the course. Students are expected to work collaboratively in small groups to apply demographic methods, conduct quantitative data analysis, and produce a concise scientific report that demonstrates their understanding of the study's findings. This structure ensures students engage deeply with both the theoretical and practical aspects of health demography.

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:

• Identify the basic demographic concepts, theories and methods used to study changes in population size and composition (e.g. mortality, fertility, aging, migration)
• Explain how demography and health are interrelated both in the short- and long-term (e.g. demographic transition, health transition, nutrition transition)
• Explain how global health issues are related to economic and societal risk factors
• Apply the concepts of (health) demography by designing and conducting a small scale quantitative study
• Write a research paper that summarizes your quantitative studies according to principles of scientific writing

Assumed Knowledge:

Students taking this course should have quantitative data analysis skills, including developing proficiency in bivariate and multivariate analyses. During the course, you will be required to select appropriate data analysis techniques for typical research questions and datasets and use R to analyze secondary data.

• For BGM Students: These data analysis skills will be taught/strengthened in Data Analysis for Health and Society (YRM 21806), a course held concurrently during Period 6 (mornings).
• For Non-BGM Students: You are expected to have acquired these skills through previous coursework or self-study before enrolling.