MPH 530.001: Global Public Health Challenges: Selecting a Topic in Public Health

Choose a topic that interests you and will hold your attention. If you do, the research will be more enjoyable! You can also subscribe to receive updates on the topic.  

Some resource suggestions:

Select the Health Topic International Health in Medlineplus.gov to get a general overview of international or global health issues, the latest news, and current research

Select the Global Health Data Tools and Statistics page on the PHPartners.org web site 

What are major global health challenges?

HIV/AIDS 

Malaria 

Tuberculosis 

Polio 

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) 

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) 

Maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) 

Family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) 

Nutrition 

Water, sanitation and hygiene

 Can’t think of a topic to research? 

• Scan your textbook for broad topic ideas.
• Peruse current magazines and newspapers to see what catches your eye.
• Browse print and electronic encyclopedias.
• Look at "hot topic" databases, such as Points of View Reference Center, which feature articles on current events and controversial issues.
• Discuss potential topics with your instructor, your librarian or a classmate.

Before selecting a topic or starting your research, make sure you understand your assignment and its requirements. Consider the following:

• How many pages/words do you need to write?
• Do you need to include specific types of sources? (e.g. scholarly journal, book, etc.)
• When is the assignment due? How much time do you have to research?
• Is currency of information important?

When in doubt, consult with your instructor!

Consider looking at the Subject List tab available in many online databases. Some suggested keywords/terms: public health, global health, international health, and traveler's health.  Other related topics may include vulnerable populations or groups, refugee health, immigrant health, and human rights

• Browse the Subject List for main terms in Academic Search Premier
• Browse by subject in JSTOR 
  
• Browse through the Thesauri in the advanced search page of ProQuest Database for the terms
  
• Browse for relevant MeSH - Medical Subject Headings - in Medline
• You may find some controversial topics that deal with public health issues in the database Points of View Reference Center