SOCI 210 Chapter Notes - Chapter 19: Infant Mortality, Socialized Medicine, Social Epidemiology
1 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Medical sociology: systematic study of how humans manage issues of health & illness, disease. & disorders, and healthcare for both the sick and healthy. Sociologists view illness as having both a biological and an experiential component that exist independently. Study physical, mental and social components of health. Culture determines which illnesses are stigmatized, considered disabilities, contestable . Stigmatization of illness: social stigmas hinder individuals" integration into society, greatest effect on patient and kind of care he receives. Contested illnesses: questioned by some medical professionals (true or only in patient"s head) which affects the treatment. Affects medical knowledge; i. e. tell pregnant women not to do this or that. Social construction of illness: no objective reality, only our perception of it. Social epidemiology: study of causes and distribution of diseases, reveals how social problems are connected to health of different populations (low-income vs high-income nations) The cost of health care is an important issue, shape access in regions.
