ANTH100 Lecture Notes - Biomedicine, Initial And Terminal Objects, Schistosomiasis

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: ANTH100
• Professor: Jennifer Liu

Document Summary

Cross cultural study of health and health problems. One of the fastest growing areas of anthropology. Mainly part of cultural anthropology, but also linked with other fields, like biological anthropology. Biological, and linguistic to better understand those factors which influence health and wellbeing, experience and distribution of illness . The study of human health in a variety of cultural and environmental contexts. Evans pritchard notion of witchcraft explains unfortunate events . Certain kinds of health problems manifest in certain communities/cultures. Can be fatal not just in the mind . Back pain, fatigue, lack of appetite, nightmare connected to traumatic events. People suffering from susto have higher mortality rates. Culturally linked to excessive concern with looks/body weight. Health problems caused by war, famine, terrorism, forced migration, poverty. Outside of individual control are shaping health. Environment interacts with culture to influence the cause of health problems. Understanding illness/healing as symbolic and meaningful: critical medical.