Global Health
Exam Two Questions Draft – 8 Nov
To be submitted via the Turnitin link
Due: Wednesday, 23 November at 11:59pm

Answer the following essay questions. There is no word minimum or maximum; however do be mindful of length. Complete/comprehensive/well-developed yet succinct answers are preferred (meaning: beware
of repetition, organize your ideas well, avoid BS). I expect you to draw on both readings, notes taken during the seminar, and any other useful resources. Remember that each question might draw on
material presented across several weeks.
1. (40%) What works. What fails: This semester, we have reviewed a wide range of issues, programs, and ideas in global health. Identify a set of ideas, perspectives, interventions, or practices
that appear to work well in global health (around 3-5 is good). Why are these successful? Next, in a more critical vein, identify a set of ideas, perspectives, interventions, or practices that are
less than desirable (around 3-5). Why do they fail? The “what works” observations can be linked with the “what doesn’t work.” For example, one might remark that behaviour change approaches in HIV
treatment do not work because they ignore powerful social and economic pressures/constraints. However, programs that are able to go to where the patient is in terms of location, financial
situation, and social context, and treat issues beyond the scope of HIV have higher success rates (of course, in reality, your answer is going to be much more elaborate and cited). Try to avoid
repeating material that is in your paper for this semester. Remember to back your answer with relevant material from this semester.
2. (30%) Global Mental Health Debate: What issues and perspectives are central to the recent global mental health debate? In your answer, demonstrate your grasp of the GMH situation and each of the
perspectives—specifically, the positions of those that support a unified global mental health agenda and those that are more cautious. Based on the readings and seminar material, outline your
perspective or position on the issue and what you consider to be at stake.
3. (30%) Infectious Diseases and Non-Communicable Diseases: From an anthropological and global health perspective, what is a syndemic (what does the perspective offer) and why is it important?
Provide an example of syndemic thinking for an infectious condition and a non-infectious condition. How can thinking in terms of syndemics influence our approach to, our understanding of, and the
treatment for IDs and NCDs.

Finally, describe how the notion of compliance—that is, the degree to which a patient correctly follows advice (which is often manifest as a paternalistic attitude toward the patient)—arises as a
key theme (being similar and/or different) for ID and NCD prevention strategies, treatments, or larger forms of discourse around, for example, responsibility. Your answer might include, for
instance, a description of where compliance is directed in each case.