PHLT 3751 - Public Health Impact of War and Conflict
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section A01, CRN 43621,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Lauren Iagulli
Email: lmiagulli01@ysu.edu
Course Description
3751. Public Health Impact of War and Conflict. Explores the profound and often devastating public health implications of war and conflict, offering students an in-depth understanding of how armed conflicts affect health systems, populations, and healthcare infrastructure. Prereq.: None. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | War and Public Health | Barry S. Levy / Victor W. Sidel | 9780195311273 |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Chapter 1: War and Public Health and Overview Chapter 2: The Epidemiology of War Bendavid E, et al. "The effects of armed conflict on the health of women and children." The Lancet 2021. "Measuring conflict related mortality in ten countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (2004–2024): A scoping review." PMC, 2024/2025. |
Framing War as a Public Health Problem | Module 1 -- Discussion Module 1 -- Assignment Module 1 -- Quiz |
| 8/31 | Chapter 3: War and Human Rights Chapter 4: The Impact of War on Mental Health Chapter 5: The Impact of War on the Environment "Effects of blast exposure on anxiety and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among displaced Ukrainian populations." 2024. Rostomian L, Chiloyan A, Hentschel E, Messerlian C. "Effects of armed conflict on maternal and infant health: a mixed-methods study of Armenia and the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war." BMJ Open 2023. |
The Human, Environmental, and Psychological Toll | Module 2 -- Discussion Module 2 -- Assignment Module 2 -- Quiz |
| 9/7 | Chapter 6: Conventional Weapons Chapter 7: Landmines Chapter 8: Chemical Weapons Ekzayez A, Flecknoe MD, Lillywhite L, Patel P, Papamichail A, Elbahtimy H. "Chemical Weapons and public health: assessing impact and responses." Journal of Public Health 2020;42(3):e334–e342. |
Weapons I — Conventional Arms, Landmines, and Chemical Weapons | Module 3 -- Discussion Module 3 -- Assignment Module 3 -- Quiz |
| 9/14 | Chapter 9: Biological Weapons Chapter 10: Nuclear Weapons "Simulation of a Nuclear Fallout Scenario in the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant During the Ukraine Conflict." Military Medicine, 2025. |
Weapons II — Biological and Nuclear Weapons | Module 4 -- Discussion Module 4 -- Assignment Module 4 -- Quiz |
| 9/21 | Chapter 11: The Impact of War on Children Chapter 12: The Impact of War on Women Chapter 13: Displaced Persons and War Chapter 14: Detainees and the New Face of Torture "Understanding nature, barriers, and facilitators in addressing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in conflict zones of Africa: A scoping review." |
Vulnerable Populations | Module 5 -- Discussion Module 5 -- Assignment Module 5 -- Quiz |
| 9/28 | Chapter 15: The Iraq War Chapter 16: The War in Chechnya Chapter 17: War in the Democratic Republic of Congo Chapter 18: Wars in Latin America Chapter 19: The Vietnam War |
Specific Wars — Comparative Case Studies | Module 6 -- Discussion Module 6 -- Assignment Module 6 -- Quiz |
| 10/5 | Chapter 20: A Public Health Approach to Preventing the Health Consequences of Armed Conflict Chapter 21: International Law Chapter 22: The Roles of Humanitarian Assistance Organizations Chapter 23: The Roles of Nongovernmental Organizations Chapter 24: The Roles and Ethical Dilemmas for Military Chapter 25: The Roles of Health Professionals in Postconflict Situationss Chapter 26: Peacemaking in the Aftermath of Disasters Chapter 27: Educating Health Professionals on Peace and Human Rights Chapter 28: Toward a Culture of Peace "Prevention of War: A Scoping Review on Primary Preventive Measures in Public Health." Public Health Reviews 2023. APHA Policy Brief, "The Role of Public Health Practitioners, Academics and Advocates in Relation to Armed Conflict." |
Prevention, Professional Roles, and Building a Culture of Peace | Module 7 -- Discussion Module 7 -- Assignment Module 7 -- Quiz |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.