Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Social health is considered as an important part of good health both individually
and socially. The purpose of this study was to examine the content of the official medical sciences
curriculum in undergraduate degrees from a social health perspective.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This qualitative content analysis study was conducted in 2019
at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences using a deductive approach based on Hsieh and
Shannon's directed content analysis. For this purpose, official curricula in the fields of Public Health,
Occupational Health, Environmental Health, Nursing, Midwifery, Nutrition Sciences, and Health
Services Management were analyzed using MAXQDA 12.
RESULTS: The results showed that a total of 136 codes related to the components of social health
were identified in the topics of undergraduate medical sciences majors. Most to least relevant
topics belonged to the fields of Public Health (61 codes), Midwifery (22 codes), Nursing (16 codes),
Occupational Health (12 codes), Environmental Health and Nutrition Sciences (each 10 codes), and
Health Services Management (5 codes), respectively. Among the components of social health, only the
component related to access to insurance and health services was mentioned in all seven disciplines.
However, the components of poverty and inequality were only included in three disciplines (Public
Health, Nursing, Midwifery).
CONCLUSION: Regarding insufficient focus on social health in curricula, revision of educational
curricula is suggested from the perspective of social health, particularly in areas such as poverty
and inequality, unemployment, population, violence, and gender discrimination.
Keywords
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