HLTA02H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Biomedicine, Determinant, Sociocultural Anthropology
Document Summary
Social anthropology: the study of all aspects of society from a cross-cultural perspective, histo(cid:396)i(cid:272)all(cid:455) fo(cid:272)used on the (cid:272)ultu(cid:396)es of (cid:862)e(cid:454)oti(cid:272) othe(cid:396)s(cid:863); no(cid:449) e(cid:395)uall(cid:455) inte(cid:396)ested in. Medical anthropology: a sub-discipline of social anthropology; considers biological and cultural factors, concerned with experiences and practices of health, illness and healing in different cultural experiences, examines health-related beliefs, knowledge and practices of cultural groups. Inequality embedded in cultural views and approaches to health can contribute and exacerbate poor health conditions. Experiencing illness: the state of illness is different to that of disease. Illness: lived experience of symptoms and suffering and the associated behaviour to resolve the situation: looking for treatments and cures described differently across cultures. Illness problems: practical difficulties caused by the illness related to the socio-cultural expectations: shame associated with disfigurement. Illness complaints: descriptions patients bring to practitioners: health beliefs: shaped by dominant discourses such as biomedicine, alternative schools of thought, media, personal experiences, etc.
