Master of Public Health

Maternal and Child Health Concentration

Breadcrumb

Maternal and Child Health Concentration

Studies the health and well-being of mothers, children, and families

The Brown University School of Public Health has substantial strengths in Maternal and Child Health (MCH). This includes a vibrant core of interdisciplinary faculty focused on MCH issues from the prenatal period through adolescents. The Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute was launched in 2016, presenting new opportunities for expanding MCH research and education programs at Brown. This is in addition to the existing School of Public Health research centers that include a focus on MCH issues. Beyond the strengths within the School of Public Health, active MCH collaborations extend to the Brown University affiliated hospitals, state government, local government, community organizations and industry.

Childhood Asthma Research

In Rhode Island, rates of childhood asthma are above the national average. For his MPH thesis project, Hassenfeld Scholar Spenser Anderson examined the factors that make living with asthma difficult for children.

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Program Snapshot

Competencies

In addition to the standard MPH Program Competencies, students in the MCH Concentration will meet the following:

  • Evaluate the extent of a maternal and child health problem in a defined population.
  • Recommend the interventions a defined community should undertake to address a given maternal or child health problem.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of policies related to maternal or child health.
  • Concisely synthesize data from studies on barriers to maternal or child health.
  • Critique the methods used in maternal or child health epidemiologic research.
  • Use age-appropriate epidemiologic methods to design a study of maternal or child health.

Courses

Maternal and Child Health Concentration Courses

Complete all of the following maternal and child health courses:

  • PHP1900, Epidemiology of Disorders and Diseases of Childhood and Young Adulthood
  • PHP1950, Adolescent and Young Adult Health
  • PHP2023, Maternal and Child Health in the United States
  • PHP2220F, Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology

MCH applied research methods for those following the qualitative analytic sequence course (PHP2506/PHP2060/PHP2061):

  • Students following the qualitative analytic sequence must  take PHP2061, Qualitative Analysis in Public Health Research, and it will count as the MCH applied research methods requirement

MCH applied research methods for those following the quantitative analytic sequence courses (PHP2507/PHP2508 or PHP2510/PHP2511):
Select one of the following:

  • PHP1450, COVID-19, Public Health, and Health Policy
  • PHP1810, Community-Based Participatory Research (CBLR) course
  • PHP2015, Foundations of Spatial Analysis in Public Health
  • PHP2024, Engaged Scholarship for Maternal and Child Health
  • PHP2030, Clinical Trials
  • PHP2040, Survey Research Methods
  • PHP2060, Qualitative Methods
  • PHP2300, Behavioral Research Methods
  • PHP2415, Intro to Evidence-Based Medicine
  • PHP2428, Public Health Law Justice
  • GEOL1320, Intro to GIS (May not be taken if the student has already completed Soc2612)
  • SOC2612, Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis for the Social Sciences (taught every other year)

Thesis

All in-person students are required to complete a thesis. Students in the Maternal and Child Health concentration must complete their thesis focused on an appropriate Maternal and Child Health topic with appropriate Maternal and Child Health advisors.



Faculty

Maternal and Child Health Concentration Lead