Certificate in Women’s Health Issues

Women's Health Issues

Women represent over half of the global population. Despite this, women and their health issues have traditionally been neglected both nationally and globally. Although this is slowly changing, many of the health issues facing women today do not receive the appropriate attention they deserve and women's health suffers as a result. The major health issues facing women include heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence, and skin conditions, as well as a variety of gynecological health concerns (including sexually transmitted diseases).

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe key health issues facing women, both globally and nationally.

Oral Health: Beautiful Smiles for Life

Oral health can affect virtually every other aspect of our health. Good oral health can not only prevent disease in the mouth but it can also prevent many chronic diseases. Good oral health is more than "pretty teeth" and affects our ability to speak, smile, eat, and show emotions. It impacts self-esteem, school performance, and attendance at school and work.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe various common types of oral health issues, as well as their causes, treatment, and prevention strategies.

Women's Mental Health and Wellness

Good mental health is as important as physical and spiritual health and research continues to show how closely mental, physical, and spiritual health are connected. A healthy mental state allows us to enjoy life, good physical health, helps us cope with life's challenges, and provides a feeling of well-being and inner strength. A healthy mental state also supports family, friends, and communities. Gender is a crucial determinant of mental health and mental illness. Gender bias occurs in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the role of gender bias in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders and discuss the major mental health disorders affecting women.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) Health Issues

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning individuals—often referred to under the umbrella acronym LGBTQ—are becoming more visible and acknowledged in societies both in the United States and throughout the world. Yet, because of the discrimination and stigma often associated with who LGBTQ people are, healthcare providers and researchers still do not have complete information about their health status. The LGBTQ community is often combined as a single group in research studies and for advocacy, but each is a distinct population with its own unique health needs.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the overall health issues facing the LGBTQ community. The learner will state key terms and concepts relevant to providing culturally appropriate health care for LGBTQ individuals.

International Women's Health—Challenges and Opportunities

While women have a longer life expectancy than men in most every country, they don't necessarily get to enjoy healthier lives. Millions of women suffer from health issues each year throughout the world—health issues that would not affect them if they were men. Poverty, scarce education or economic opportunities, gender bias, gender discrimination, unjust laws, conflict, climate change, and human rights violations impede advancements in women's health worldwide. When women's health concerns, women's rights, and empowerment are made a priority, the result is immense improvements in the health and well-being of women and their children on a global scale.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the key international health issues facing women and their impact on the health of women, children, and communities.

Effective and Empowering Communication

Communication is how people exchange information, opinions, and ideas and it links all human beings together. Intimate, complex, and necessary for our very survival, communication can profoundly affect our overall health and wellness. Today, communication not only transmits information and knowledge, but more importantly, it helps us relate to each other as human beings around the globe in a context of relationships, cultures, families, organizations, and nations. What we say, how we say it, and what we mean are critical and can be life changing.

The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe the various elements impacting communication as well as identify various methods of communication.

Self-Care for Health and Well-Being

Caring for yourself is one of the most important things you can do for yourself, and it is also one of the easiest things to forget to do or put aside in favor of tending to ot