Global health education in high-income countries: confronting coloniality and power asymmetry

BMJ Glob Health. 2022 May;7(5):e008501. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-008501.

Abstract

Contemporary global health education is overwhelmingly skewed towards high-income countries (HICs). HIC-based global health curricula largely ignore colonial origins of global health to the detriment of all stakeholders, including trainees and affected community members of low- and middle-income countries. Using the Consortium of Universities for Global Health's Global Health Education Competencies Tool-Kit, we analyse the current structure and content of global health curricula in HICs. We identify two major areas in global health education that demand attention: (1) the use of a competency-based education framework and (2) the shortcomings of curricular content. We propose actionable changes that challenge current power asymmetries in global health education.

Keywords: health education and promotion; public health.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Curriculum*
  • Developed Countries
  • Global Health*
  • Health Education
  • Humans
  • Income