Module Specification
An online version of this specification is available to prospective students at
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/currentstudents/studentinformation/msc_module_handbook/section3_moduledescript/in
dex.html
GENERAL INFORMATION
Module name
Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections
Module code
3192
Module Organisers
Dr Deborah Watson-Jones, Ms Helen Kelly and Professor Philippe Mayaud
Contact email
Deborah.Watson-Jones@lshtm.ac.uk or Helen.Kelly@lshtm.ac.uk or
Philippe.Mayaud@lshtm.ac.uk
Home Faculty
Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases
Level
This module is at Level 7 (postgraduate Masters ‘M’ level) of the QAA
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales & Northern
Ireland (FHEQ).
Credit
LSHTM award 15 credits on successful completion of this module.
Accreditation
Not currently accredited by any other body.
Keywords
Disease prevention & control; Sexual & reproductive health; Communicable
diseases; HIV/AIDS; Vulnerable groups; Proposal development; Health
systems; Quality (including accessibility); Sexuality; Gender & health; Planning
and programming; Management/leadership.
AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND AUDIENCE
Overall aim
To provide students with an overview of the principles and practice of control
of sexually transmitted infections (STI), mainly focusing on resource poor
settings.
Intended learning
outcomes
By the end of this module, students should be able to:




Target audience
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles underlying
public health control of STI;
Set priorities for STI control programmes, and select between a variety of
available intervention options;
Plan (including resource planning), monitor and evaluate public health
programmes for the control of STI;
Write a proposal for funding for an STI control programme.
This module is intended for students who are interested in the public health
aspects and control of infectious diseases, especially sexually transmitted
infections (STI).
1
CONTENT
Session content
The module is expected to include sessions addressing the following topics
(though please note that these may be subject to change):

Models of STI control;

Policy and politics and the control of STI;

Understanding sexual behaviour;

Clinical presentation of STIs;

Clinical management in resource poor settings;

Partner notification;

Role of the laboratory;

Surveillance of STIs;

Interventions with specific groups (e.g. female sex workers, MSM, youth...);

Approaches to the control of specific STIs: HPV, HSV, syphilis...;

Successes and failures in the control of STI epidemics;

Novel sexual health technologies;

Planning, monitoring and evaluation;

Indicators for monitoring and project performance;

Budgeting for STI programmes;

Economic evaluation of STI programmes;

Proposal development and presentations;

Throughout the course, examples from different settings (geographical,
epidemiological, resource-level) will be used to illustrate particular aspects
of controlling STI).
TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT
Study resources
provided or required
Course handbooks will be provided containing printed lecture outlines +
essential reading list, exercises, some published papers; before/at/just after
each lecture, lecture notes will be provided (electronically and/or printed). A
reading list will be provided to students at the earliest convenience for advance
reading.
Teaching and learning
methods
There will be a number of lectures and practical exercises and time will be
available for library work. At least one morning or afternoon per week will be
devoted to group work. Groups will prepare and present a proposal for a
control programme in a resource poor setting at the end of the module.
Assessment details
Individual and group work to produce a 7000-9000 words/15-20 pages
written proposal for an STI control programme, and group presentation of key
elements of the proposal. Marks awarded comprise an assessment of specific
contributions of individual students to the written proposal (50%), an overall
group mark (30%) for the written proposal, marks for the oral group
presentation (10%) plus an element of peer assessment (10%).
For students who are required to re-sit, or granted a deferral or new attempt,
the task will be an individual essay (2,500-3,000 words) on STI control.
2
Assessment dates
Assessments will take place on a date TBC when oral presentations will be
made. Three copies of the group proposal will have to be handed in the day
before.
For students who are required to re-sit, or granted a deferral or new attempt,
the next assessment deadline will be the standard School-recommended date in
mid/late September 2016.
Language of study and
assessment
English (please see ‘English language requirements’ below regarding the
standard required for entry).
TIMING AND MODE OF STUDY
Duration
The module runs for 5 weeks at 2.5 days per week; this module runs between
Monday morning and Wednesday lunchtime.
Dates
For 2015-2016, the module will start on Monday 22 February 2016 and finish
on Wednesday 23 March 2016.
Timetable slot
The module runs in LSHTM timetable slot D1
Mode of Study
The module is taught face-to-face in London. Both full-time and part-time
students follow the same schedule. For full-time students, other LSHTM
modules are available in the other half of the week for the C and D slots.
Learning time
The notional learning time for the module totals 150 hours, consisting of:

Contact time ≈ 30 hours

Directed self-study ≈ 15 hours

Self-directed learning ≈ 20 hours

Assessment, review and revision ≈ 85 hours.
APPLICATION, ADMISSION AND FEES
Pre-requisites
This module is open to both clinical and non-clinical students.
English language
requirements
A strong command of the English language is necessary to benefit from
studying the module. Applicants whose first language is not English or whose
prior university studies have not been conducted wholly in English must fulfil
LSHTM’s English language requirements, with an acceptable score in an
approved test taken in the two years prior to entry. Applicants may be asked to
take a test even if the standard conditions have been met.
Student numbers
Student numbers have typically been about 10-40 per year; numbers may be
capped due to limitations in facilities or staffing.
Student selection
Preference will be given to LSHTM MSc students and LSHTM research degree
students. Other applicants meeting the entry criteria will usually be offered a
place in the order applications are received, until any cap on numbers is
reached. Applicants may be placed on a waiting list and given priority the next
time the module is run.
Full registration (full participation) by LSHTM research degree students is
required for this module.
3
Fees
For registered LSHTM MSc students, fees for the module are included within
MSc fees (given on individual course prospectus pages).
If registering specifically for this module, as a stand-alone short course,
individual module fees will apply.
Tuition fees must be paid in full before commencing the module, or by any fee
deadline set by the Registry.
Scholarships
Scholarships are not available for individual modules. Some potential sources
of funding are detailed on the LSHTM website.
Admission deadlines
For 2015-2016:

For registered LSHTM MSc students, the module choice deadline (for Term
2 and 3 modules) is Friday 20 November 2015.

If registering specifically for this module, applications may be made at any
time; but as places are limited, applications ahead of the MSc deadline are
strongly advised. All applications should be submitted at the latest 8 weeks
prior to the start of the module. Formal registration will take place on the
morning of the first day of the module.
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
This module specification applies for the academic year 2015-2016
Last revised 4 July 2014 by Helen Kelly, Deborah Watson-Jones & Philippe Mayaud Minor amendments
SDB 20th July 15
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St., London WC1E 7HT.
www.lshtm.ac.uk
4