You must write your own ‘Country Health Profile’ in a style similar to that of the ‘New Internationalist’ magazines monthly country profile.

Assignment Brief

The underlying approach to this module is through continuous assessment and so students will be assessed via the following three ways:

• Case Study (summative assessment and graded) 40%
• Essay (summative assessment and graded) 60%
• Weekly online tasks (to add to your health case study and essay)

Assessment 1:

Case study (2,000 words as a guideline) assessing learning outcomes 2, 5 and 6. This is worth 40% of the overall mark for the module.

You must write your own ‘Country Health Profile’ in a style similar to that of the ‘New Internationalist’ magazines monthly country profile. Your focus and analysis should be on the broad social factors that impact upon the wide range of health concerns and problems of the people/populations in that nation state. You should pick one country from one region/continent from the list below as your focus:

Africa: Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, Nigeria, Middle East: Yemen, Egypt, Syria

South America: Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela Asia 

South Asia: China, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Uzbekistan

This should be presented in an easy to understand manner (Poster presentation) and you should aim to use infographics software as it is a useful skill to learn for employability purposes: www.easel.ly or www.canva.com. However, guidance will be given on what to put in this case study within teaching sessions.

You must complete the country case study which is A1 size using a template (or you can also make your own if you want to personalise it more and have more creativity) which can be found on:

New Internationalist editions (from 1973 to the present day) can be found on Discover as a reference guide but some of the information you will need to show will be in more detail so await instructions. Your online tasks for this module will help you to build core information for this assessment. As you are at level six of your degree, you must show wider reading than just the lecture and seminar information and that of the online tasks. Your case study must be submitted on Canvas under ‘Assignment One’ (for comments and your grade)

Sample Answer

Country Health Profile: Pakistan

Overview

Population: around 241 million
Capital: Islamabad
Official Language: Urdu
Life Expectancy: 67 years (men), 69 years (women)
GDP per capita: around $1,500 (World Bank, 2023)
Health System: Mixed public-private
Major Health Challenges: Maternal and child mortality, infectious diseases, poor sanitation, malnutrition

Pakistan, a country of stark contrasts, stretches from the Himalayan peaks to the Arabian Sea. With a growing urban population and a youthful demographic, Pakistan faces immense challenges in public health, exacerbated by poverty, political instability, and limited access to quality healthcare. This health profile explores the social and economic conditions shaping the nation’s health outcomes.

1. Social Determinants of Health

Poverty and Inequality

Roughly 40% of Pakistanis live below the poverty line (UNDP, 2023). Income inequality has worsened in recent years, with rural areas, particularly in Balochistan, Sindh, and southern Punjab, lacking basic services such as clean water and sanitation. Urban slums in Karachi and Lahore are overcrowded and underserved, contributing to the rapid spread of diseases like tuberculosis and hepatitis.

Education and Literacy

Adult literacy in Pakistan stands at around 59%, with wide gender disparities (72% for men vs. 46% for women). Lack of education is linked to poor health-seeking behaviour, especially among rural women, who often give birth at home without skilled care. Education also affects child nutrition and hygiene practices.

Gender Inequality

Gender is a major determinant of health. Pakistan ranks 142nd out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index (World Economic Forum, 2023). Women have limited access to healthcare, especially in tribal and conservative regions. Gender-based violence, child marriage, and restricted mobility worsen women’s physical and mental health.

2. Health Infrastructure and Access

Health Workforce and Facilities

Pakistan spends just 1.2% of its GDP on healthcare, far below the WHO recommended 5%. Many public hospitals are underfunded, overcrowded, and lack essential supplies. According to the WHO, there is one doctor for every 1,100 people and one hospital bed for every 1,600, insufficient for a country of its size.

Urban vs. Rural Divide

Urban residents often access private clinics, while over 60% of the rural population relies on Basic Health Units (BHUs), which are frequently closed, poorly equipped, or under-staffed. Traditional healers and home remedies are common alternatives. Emergency services are largely absent outside cities.

Corruption and Mismanagement

Misuse of healthcare budgets and weak regulatory control over private providers has resulted in poor service quality. Public hospitals sometimes ask patients to buy their own medicines or pay informal fees.

3. Disease Burden and Health Indicators

Maternal and Child Health

Pakistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in South Asia: 186 deaths per 100,000 live births (UNICEF, 2022). Around 38% of children under five are stunted, largely due to malnutrition, poor maternal health, and unsafe drinking water. Neonatal care is inadequate in many regions, and immunisation rates remain low despite free government services.

Communicable Diseases

The country still struggles with tuberculosis, hepatitis B & C, malaria, and dengue fever outbreaks. Polio remains endemic in a few districts, despite international eradication campaigns. Vaccine hesitancy, religious misconceptions, and weak outreach programmes continue to hamper progress.

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

With urbanisation and lifestyle changes, NCDs now account for over 58% of deaths. Diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer are rising, particularly among the middle class. Lack of regular screening and poor awareness contribute to late-stage diagnoses.

Continued...