Aim
To develop the capacity of health professionals to plan, manage, deliver, and evaluate maternal and child health services at the district and regional level. 

Methods
A part-time coursework and dissertation degree over two years, which includes: 
Three face-to-face teaching sessions at UCT 
Distance learning via email and the Internet 
Eight coursework modules 
20 000-word dissertation

Courses
1. Introduction to Maternal and Child Health
    Critically examines priority maternal and child health issues, the major determinants 
    of health, and the role of health services in promoting and sustaining health.
2. Priorities in Maternal and Child Health
    Integrates the principles of the introductory course into a public health approach to a 
    number of priority maternal and child health issues.
3. The Psycho-social Context of Maternal and Child Health 
    Analyses the psycho-social determinants of maternal and child health behaviour.
4. Health and Development 
    Explores the developmental determinants of health and the systems and ideologies   
    that promote and sustain maternal and child health.
5. Organisation and Management in the Health District
    Examines the organisation, planning, and management of district health services, 
    and the nature and role of policy, law, and advocacy in health service delivery.
6. Epidemiology and Research Methods 
    Introduces the principles of epidemiological research for district health management.
7. Introduction to Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
    Provides a practical introduction to the use of ICT and the Internet for 
    communication, learning and research.
8. Professional Communication 
    Communication skills for district health management and service delivery are 
    developed throughout the programme.

Admission requirements 
an undergraduate degree in the health sciences 
at least two years' experience in managing maternal and child health services 
access to a personal computer

Applications to
Mrs Denise Brown 
UCT Child Health Unit
46 Sawkins Road
Rondebosch 7700
Tel: (021) 685 4103; Fax: (021) 689 5403; Email: denise@rmh.uct.ac.za

Prescribed books (learners to purchase or loan from MCHIRC)

Epidemiology
1. Vaughan & Morrow (eds.). Epidemiology for District Health Management. WHO 1989
2. Katzenellenbogen , Joubert, Karim (eds.). Epidemiology : A Manual for SA. OUP 
    1997

MCH 
1. Kibel & Wagstaff (eds.). Child health for All (2nd ed.). OUP 1995
2. Coovadia & Wittenberg (eds.). Paediatrics and Child Health (4th ed.). OUP 1998
3. Woods DL. Perinatal Education Programme (PEP) manuals 1 and 2 on Maternal and 
    Neonatal Health. 
4. Woods DL. Manual on perinatal HIV/AIDS
5. Royston E & Armsytrong S (eds.). Preventing Maternal Deaths. WHO 1989.
6. M. Enkin, M. Keirse. A guide to effective care in pregnancy and childbirth. 2nd. Ed. 
    OUP, 1996
7. Dept. of Health. Guidelines for maternity care in SA. 2000
8. NCCEMD. Saving Mothers: Report on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in 
    South Africa, 1998 (Executive Summary)

Psychosocial context of MCH
1. Donald D, Dawes A, Louw J. Addressing childhood adversity. David Philip 2000

Organization and management 
1. McMahon R et al. On Being in Charge: a guide to management in PHC. WHO 1992
2. Green A. An introduction to health planning in developing countries OUP 1992.
3. McCoy D, Bamford L. How to Conduct a Rapid Situation Analysis. Health Systems 
    Trust 1998
4. Harrison D. Pocket Guide to District Health Systems. Health Systems Trust 1997.

Reference books

Epidemiology
1. Beaglehole. Basic Epidemiology. WHO 1993.

MCH
1. Lankester T. Setting up Community Health programmes. MacMillan 1992.
2. Shore, Keet & Harrison. The Newborn Baby 
3. SA Health Review 2000. Health Systems Trust 2001
4. UNICEF. The State of the World's Children 2000. OUP 
5. UNICEF. First Call for Children: Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF 1990 

Psychosocial context of MCH
1. De la Rey C.et al. Contemporary issues in Human development: A SA focus. 
    International Thompson Publishing 1997.
2. Gilbert L et al. Society, Health, and Disease: An Introductory Reader for Health 
    Professionals. Ravan Press 1996.
3. Dawes A. Childhood and Adversity (1994). Out of print.
4. Donald D. et al. Educational psychology in social context. OUP 1997. 
5. Howson C et al (eds). In her lifetime: Female morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan 
    Africa, Washington, DC. National Academy Press 1996.
6. Reynolds P. Traditional healers and Childhood in Zimbabwe. Ohio U. Press 1996.
7. Swartz L. Culture and Mental Health: a southern African view. OUP 1998.

Organization and Management
1. Campbell B : From data to decision making in health 
2. Bernstein A. Building policy skills in South Africa. 
3. Barker C. The Health Care Policy Process 
4. Walt G. Health Policy: An introduction to process and power. 

Health and Development
1. Werner D, Sanders D. Questioning the Solution: the Politics of Primary Health Care 
    and Child Survival. Healthwrights 1997