CRITICAL MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Critical medical anthropology also referred to as the “political economy of health”; researches the role that socioeconomic factors have on health and healthcare practices. Critical medical anthropologists seek to find how the distribution of wealth and power and the division of labor affect health, illness, and access to healthcare. (Joralemon, 2010:10)
This field was developed to gain a critical perspective using a macro-level analysis of “the global institutions that perpetuate and expand the concentration of wealth, and they point to the epidemiological impact of a world economic system that divides populations between those who control the relations of production and those whose labor makes the system operate” (Joralemon, 2010:61). An example of critical medical anthropology at work is with major international organizations that advocate for a human's right for healthcare. This can seen in wealthy countries such as the United States, when it's poor or immigrant populations are unable to afford health insurance, therefore does not have access to healthcare, which results in an over all declined health for this demographic. Without prevention knowledge, detection screens, and resources to promote healthy living, such as eating a healthy diet, this population is at an increased risk for many health problems. This is also a major issue in underdeveloped or poorer countries. Especially as it relates to epidemics such as infectious disease outbreaks, hunger, child mortality rates, and chronic diseases. One large organization, Health Alliance International, is contributing critical medical anthropology's resolution on health and healthcare problems at both the micro and macro level. H.A.I.'s approach; "New technologies and innovations hold promise for some of the greatest challenges in global health today, yet too often this promise isn't translated into actual prevention, diagnosis or treatment that leads to healthier lives for people around the world ... delivering quality health services requires strong public-sector health systems that reach the poor. We also advocate on bigger-picture issues that impact global health, such as international lending policies, foreign aid practices, and the impact of war on public health" (healthallianceinternational.org). |
APPLIED MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Applied Medical Anthropology is utilizing the anthropologists’ cultural knowledge and expertise combined with their methodological techniques and applying that directly towards a community or society for the purpose of health intervention. Anthropologists generally study the ethnography of a multitude of minority and/or non-westernized societies. This information can assist government agencies in implementing health promotion / disease prevention programs in developing countries. (Joralemon, 2010)
As an example, consider the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 80's, "Can we really understand the AIDS epidemic and respond to it effectively by only studying the biology and pathology of the human immunodeficiency virus?" (uconn.edu)The answer is no. Of course we need bio-medicical research to tell us what the virus is, how it is transmitted, and what treatments are available. However, the epidemic is not presenting itself in the same way across the world. This is where the work of applied medical anthropologists is crucial in the resolution of health and healthcare problems. Through their work they were able to study cultural aspects contributing to the spread of the virus. For instance in the country of Zaire, Africa 1985, applied anthropologists conducted a risk-prevention program, for this to be of any success, they would need to aproach the communities with sufficient knowledge of their culture. In which, women were dominated by men, who normally had multiple partners. Also, many women were sex workers, they were at the highest risk. Therefore the target audience for risk-prevention workshops, where the women were given information on the need for condoms and role-play of the situations in which they would ask men to put on a condom, was offered. But culturally men were in charge, especially a high paying client. Even here in the United States, culturally it was believed that only homosexual activity could transmit HIV, some believed that only the poor, gay, or minority could contract the virus. Therefore, if the shoe doesn't fit you don't need to wear it, no pun intended. Because of bio-medicine we know that there is no discrimination when it comes to HIV, however, because of applied medical anthropology we know the importance of getting into all communities, both rich and poor, and teach prevention. " In other words, while biomedical understandings of AIDS are central to prevention and treatment, social science provides equally important information crucial to the fight against the AIDS epidemic" (uconn.edu). |
Sub-fields
A brief contrast of both critical and applied Medical Anthropology.