Learning Objective #1: Examine the use of public health issues in pre- and post-war Iraq as a model for analyzing global health concepts

Learning Objective #2: Describe and evaluate the design of the Global Health Watch assignment

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Global health often seems far removed from our Midwestern students' reality; therefore, it is critical to use current events to engage them. The military conflict in Iraq is a subject that students can relate to. This poster will describe the use of Iraq as an example for studying global health concepts prior to student completion of the Global Health Watch assignment in a community health nursing course. Students are provided with information on public health in Iraq pre-war and post-war. Epidemiology becomes ‘real' for students as prevalence and incidence rates are compared. The complexity of political, economic, and cultural forces that influence health status in a third world nation engaged in military conflict can then be transferred to other areas of conflict around the globe. In addition to the effect on Iraqis, health risks to military personal serving in a war zone are examined. The underlying concepts of social justice and the moral dilemma of military conflict emerge within the context of an objective examination of public health.