Anthropology in the News Medical Anthropology and Biocultural Approaches.

Anthropology in the News

Medical Anthropology and Biocultural Approaches

Medical Anthropological Approach

• How can we understand the intersection between medicine and culture?

•What are the relationships among “disease,” “illness,” and “wellness”?

• Examine the intersection between medicine and culture is historically, politically, and economically constructed.

Medical Anthropological Approach

• Illness• ______________________________

• Disease • _______________________________

• Wellness • Some cultures _______________________

Brief History of Medical Anthropology

1990’s = _________________________________ Ex. Farmer’s work as an MD &

anthropologist “illness narratives” = your story, your

words, your experience with illness

2000 = Using _________________as a tool to examine _______________________ ________________ ________________

Medical Anthropology: Cholera


• What is cholera?• Infectious __________________

• Transmission - Occurs through ingesting _________________________


• Originally ____________________________• _________________likely serving as a contamination

reservoir. • The disease spread by _____________to Russia, then

W. Europe, and finally N. America.

• Today• Not a high concern health threat in ____________• Heavily affects populations in ________________

Medical Anthropology: Cholera in Haiti• Paul Farmer and colleagues:

• 1.

• 2.

• 3.

• 4.

• 5.

Information available at http://anthropologyworks.com/index.php/2010/12/12/five-steps-against-cholera-in-haiti/

Medical Anthropology: Cholera in Haiti

Anthropological Study of AIDS• Background:• Infancy – late 1980s early 1990s

• AIDS and Anthropology Research Group – 1987•Western and non-western cultures

Anthropological Study of AIDS

China

Haiti

South Africa

Paul Farmer

Anthropological Study of AIDS

• Renaud’s study• Legal (registered)

prostitute community & non-prostitute community • Kaolack, Senegal• 1.• 2.• 3.

• Worked from a local health clinic

Anthropological Research and AIDS

• Prior knowledge about research starting: • Approximately ______________________ in Kaolack were HIV positive

Renaud’s research ___________________________________ ____________________________________


Information Gathered: A high % of prostitutes ________________with

clients In their relationships, ________________________ Non-prostitutes also reported being reluctant to

_____________________________________


• Renaud’s conclusion from her research:

• Women did “_________________ _____________________________”

• Asking their partners to ______ ___________________________


• Research has found links between:• Local sociocultural processes that create a

risk environment for infection AND • Lifeworlds of sufferers to the global political

economy

• Heavy focus on Africa • 1.• 2.• 3.

Information taken from: Schoeph, BG. (2001). Critical Perspective on the Crisis. Annual Review of Anthropology 30:335-361.


Information taken from: Schoeph, BG. (2001). Critical Perspective on the Crisis. Annual Review of Anthropology 30:335-361.


• Worldwide, impact of HIV/AIDS is similar for men and women• Sub-Saharan Africa, ______________________

• Why does AIDS affect more women in this region?• 1.• 2.• 3.• 4.


• Through 1990s publically denied AIDS as a viral infection• 1.• 2.

• 2000 – internationally rejected AIDS as a viral infection• 1.

Anthropology in the News Medical Anthropology and Biocultural Approaches.

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