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. 2020 Apr 21;86(1):42.
doi: 10.5334/aogh.2745.

Global Health Education Programs in the Americas: A Scoping Review

Isabel Amélia Costa Mendes  1 , Carla Aparecida Arena Ventura  1 , Artur Acelino Francisco Luz Nunes Queiroz  1 , Álvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa  2   3
Affiliations

Global Health Education Programs in the Americas: A Scoping Review

Isabel Amélia Costa Mendes et al. Ann Glob Health. .

Abstract

Background: The interest in Global Health (GH) as an academic discipline has increased in the last decade. This article reports the findings of a scoping review of studies about Global Health education in the Americas.

Objective: To analyse educational programs on global health in the Americas.

Method: Five electronic databases were used in a scoping review: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, CINAHL, and Lilacs. Data collection happened in November 2017-March 2018. The following stages were rigorously observed: identification, selection, charting, and summarizing the studies that were included. To process the data, we used IRaMuTeQ software.

Findings: Forty-six studies were identified and organized in categories: 1) diversity of the topics addressed in GH; 2) models of teaching; 3) emotional, cultural, and collaborative aspects in teaching GH; 4) student preparation for GH experiences; and 5) structures required for a GH course.

Conclusions: The existing global health curriculum in the Americas is diffuse and limited, with a greater focus on clinical aspects. Thus, a minimum curriculum for students from different areas is needed. Results evidenced that the teaching of global health in the Americas is still incipient, although it is promising. The lack of a common curriculum for the courses in the region makes it difficult to train sensitive and capable professionals to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Thematic structure of the contents related to Global Health education programs in the Americas region.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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