SOC309Y1 Chapter : Behaviour, Disease, and Health in the 20th Century United States
Document Summary
Nature of morbidity and mortality: society has attempted to question and study it. Moral & philosophical ideals, cultural values & beliefs involved. Historically subject to dramatic shifts (even for short periods) Patterns of health and disease in us underwent radical transformation (this century: reflected in major demographic indicators, nature of practice of medicine, cultural norms and values concerning health and disease. Increase life expectancy (47 in 1900 to >75 in 1993) Infectious disease constituted the predominant causes of death. Malaria, smallpox, yellow fever and cholera (in the 18/19th century) created sense of vulnerability: epidemics perception of world not under human control. Early explanations based on religious meanings and responses. Tuberculosis and pneumonia as a more serious risk: epidemics resembled fluctuation in more basic patterns of endemic infections. New-borns died due to diarrheal diseases from common: disease as selective infections standards) Medical theories emphasized hereditary quality (rich vs. poor, living.
